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NARRATIVE 



THE MILITARY ACTIONS 



COLONEL MARINUS WILLETT, 



TAKEN CHIEFLY FROM HIS OWN MANUSCRIPT. 



PREPARED BY HIS SON, WILLIAM M. WILLETT. 



rUDLISHED BY G. & C. & H. CAEVILL. 



1S31. 



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Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty-one, by G. & C. & 11. Carvill, in the Clerk's Office, of the District Court of the 
United States for the Southern District of New- York, 



LUDWIG & TOLEFREE, PRINTEKS. 



DEDICATION. 






to general la fayette, 

Sir, 

The following pages contain a plain and un- 
adorned narrative of the principal military actions in 
which Col. Willett was engaged during the French 
and Revolutionary wars : together with an account 
of his Mission to the Creek Indians. The whole 
narrative is little more than a transcript of what he 
himself wrote, after he had attained his seventieth 
year. In it, will be found a few incidents of an in- 
teresting nature, connected with our Revolutionary 
war, which heretofore have been but slighdy, if at 
all, touched by the pen of the traveller or the histo- 
rian : while the circumstances that these pages con- 
tain the otherwise perishing memorials of one of our 
oldest Revoludonary Soldiers, will, it is hoped, im- 
parl to them a peculiar interest. 



DEDICATION. 

Allow me, Sir, in giving- this narrative to the pub- 
lic, to dedicate it to you, as one of those few surviving* 
patriots who connect past strugg-les with present 
triumph and prosperity : and one, for whom Colonel 
Willett entertained the hig-hest esteem, and tlie 
warmest sentiments of friendship. 
I remain. 
Sir, 
with sentiments of g-reat respect, 
WILLIAM M. WILLETT. 
J^ew-Yorky August 15//i, 1831. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

FACE. 

5 



Introductory remarks, - 

CHAPTER H. 

Expedition to Ticonderoga. Capture of Fort Frontenac, 9 

CHAPTER HI. 
Affair of Broad-Street, 26 

CHAPTER IV. 
Expedition to Canada. An attack upon the enemy at 
PeekskiU, ^^ 

CHAPTER V. 
Siege of Fort Stanwix, ------ 43 

CHAPTER VI. 
Battle of Monmouth, ^^ 



CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII. 

PAGE. 

Mohawk Campaign's. Battle of Johnstown, - - 72 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Expedition to Oswego, 90 

CHAPTER IX. 
The Creek Mission, 94 

CHAPTER X. 

Conclusion, - - - - - - -- ^^ 

Appendix, ._---- - 129 



CHAPTER I. 






INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



The Revolutionary War, though an event not sufficiently- 
remote to produce that mingled feeling of awe and venera- 
tion with which we regard great occurrences that have 
long since transpired, is still of not so recent date, but that 
time already begins to throw a deeper shade of interest over 
the numerous and remarkable transactions which distin- 
guish that eventful period. The banks of the Delaware : 
the plains of Saratoga and of Monmouth : the environs of 
York-town ; grow dearer to us with the lapse of years ; and 
as the course of time renders the actions which were per- 
formed on these memorable spots still more and more 
remote, our admiration will continue to increase : until, like 
the plains of Marathon, and the straits of Thermopylae, they 
will be viewed as classic ground by every lover of civil free- 
dom. They will be spoken of with veneration : they will 
be approached with the deepest interest : while the recollec- 
tions of former achievements, consecrating these hallowed 
scenes, will awaken within the bosom the liveliest feelings 
of emulation and patriotism. 

This war, of so much importance to the future welfare of 
our country, was pecidiarly distinguished for the patriotism 
which was displayed throughout every stage of the pro- 
tracted and arduous struggle. Acting from an enlightened 



conviction of their just rights : suppressing rather than giv- 
ing way to the full burst of indignation which would natu- 
rally arise in generous minds from unmerited oppression, — 
the patriots of the Revolution proceeded to take their pre- 
liminary measures with the utmost coolness, deliberation, 
and firmness : and when they discovered that it was utterly 
impossible to adjust existing differences without relinquish- 
ing rights which were esteemed essential to the enjoyment 
of liberty, they then pledged themselves not to abandon a 
cause with which they conceived their own honour and 
happiness, and that of their posterity, to be forever after 
inseparably connected. Engaging thus in so important a 
cause, from a clear conviction of its justice, and not merely 
from a sense of oppression, they displayed a spirit of steady 
resistance to the most vigorous efforts of their powerful and 
inveterate adversary. They were undismayed by misfor- 
tune ; undaunted by numbers. They rose with every re- 
verse of fortune ; and plucked the laurels of victory almost 
in the very moment of defeat. Unsubdued by every variety 
of suffering, they would have preferred retiring beyond the 
Alleghany, rather than to have submitted to the government 
of their oppressors. In the midst of portending ruin, their 
valour and patriotism, confined to neither rank nor place, 
opened a way for their deliverance, and ultimately crowned 
their efforts with complete success. 

Among the number of those brave patriots, who espoused 
the cause of freedom, fought in her ranks, and were ready 
to lay down their lives in defence of her violated rights. 
Colonel Willett was not the least zealous. It is true he 
was engaged in but few of the principal actions throughout 
the war. The battle of Monmouth was the only general 
action in which he took a part, and in this he served as a 
volunteer. It was his fortune to be stationed chiefly on the 



frontiers ; but perhaps this very circumstance may heighten 
the interest of his services. To tiie more prominent events 
of tlie RevoUition, httle or notliing remains to be added ; but 
as its leading outhnes are lilled up and crowded with facts, 
many a feat of gallantry may still be gleaned from this rich 
field of adventure, heretofore in part or w^holly hidden, on 
account, perhaps, of their remoteness from the principal scene 
of action. Indeed, it is the enterprising and intrepid valour 
which Colonel Willett displayed, in rude and wild scenes 
of warfare, which has encircled his name, in the annals of 
his country, with an imperishable wreath of glory. His 
sortie from Fort Stanwix ; his passing afterw^ards, through 
the enemy's camp, in company w4th Major Stockwell, and 
traversing the wilderness for fifty miles, exposed every in- 
stant to a cruel and enraged foe, have been the theme of 
high encomium even by British historians. His services 
along the Mohawk river, the entire security which he 
afforded to that rich frontier settlement, w ere considered of 
great utility and importance by General Washington and 
Governor Clinton, and are perhaps remembered to this day 
by a few of the old inhabitants. 

As a patriot, I do not think my filial love and veneration 
will incur censure, for having led me into extravagant praise, 
when I say that no man could love his country with more 
intense affection. Enlisting in her service early on the 
morning of that day, so lowering and overcast with clouds, 
it was plain that the risk he ran, in common with others, 
was forgotten in the love he entertained for his country, and 
in a feeling of indignation against those who would have 
oppressed her, and robbed her of her rights. In the very 
commencement of the contest he was anxious to take a 
part so bold and decided, that all hope of compromise, so 
far as he was personally concerned, should be cut off 



8 

Throughout every stage of the arduous struggle, his heart 
remained true to the cause of freedom, and it was not until 
peace was proclaimed that he laid down his arms. 

At the close of the war. Colonel Willett returned to civiV 
pursuits. Under the administration of General Washington, 
he negotiated terms of peace between the Creek nation and 
the United States ; an event in which General Washington 
was deeply interested. 

In addition to negotiating this treaty. Colonel Willett 
filled several other civil offices; and after his retirement from 
public life,' he frequently appeared among his fellow- 
citizens, on interesting occasions, always manifesting a lively 
interest in the honour and prosperity of his country. 

Thus he lived, growing old amidst the esteem and afiec- 
tions of his fellow -citizens ; and as time continually dimin- 
ished the number of his old associates in arms, becoming 
like one of a few noble trees of a once large and flourishing 
forest, more and more an object of respect and veneration. 

At length Colonel Willett sunk under the weight of years. 
The numerous public testimonials to his character, and the 
tribute of respect paid to his remains, by an immense con- 
course of his fellow-citizens, showed the degree of honour 
in which in his old age, and in the retirement of private life, 
he was still held. 

" So sleep the brave, who sink to rest 
By all their country's honours blest." 

All that now remains to his country, is the recollection of 
his services in her cause ; his ardent attachment to her wel- 
fare. And having devoted the fulness and strength of his 
days, to promote the glory and prosperity of his country, his 
name perhaps will not soon be forgotten, but in a later 
period still of her history, be found adorning some page in 
the annals of that eventful period in which he lived. 



CHAPTER 11. 

EXPEDITION TO TICONDEROGA. CAPTURE OF FORT 

FRONT ENAC. 

Colonel Marians Willett was boni on tlie 31st of July, 
(old style) 1740, in Jamaica, Long Island, in the State of 
New York. He was of a respectable family : his grand- 
father Samuel Willett, held the office of Sheriff of Queen's 
county, Long Island: his father, Edward Willett, born in 
the year 1701, lived on a farm on the island a number of 
years, though he afterwards removed to New York, where 
he continued to reside until his death. He died in his son's 
house at the advanced age of 93. 

Colonel Willett was one of thirteen children : he survived 
them all. Elbert Willett, who died at his residence in Al- 
bany a few years since, at the age of 90, was, with the ex- 
ception of Colonel Willett,the sole surviving member of the 
family. Of six brothers, of whom Colonel Willett was the 
youngest, but one besides himself engaged in either the 
colonial or revolutionary war : tins was Isaac, the fourth 
brother, who went as a lieutenant in a privateer in the French 
war, in the year '38, was cast avv^ay in a hurricane, and, 
with all on board, perished. 

Colonel Willett was between fifteen and sixteen years of 
age, when an impressment took place in the city of New 
York, which was the first circumstance of a public nature 
that left a serious impression on his mind. The follow- 



10 

ing- is his own account of the transaction. "A nnmber 
of marines belonging to the Enghsh men-of-war, then lymg 
in the liarbour, were employed in impressing men for those 
ships. They commenced their business very early in the 
morning ; and though it was afterwards said that their orders 
were to impress only such as had the appearance of sea- 
faring or labouring men, yet several respectable citizens were 
seized by those press-gangs, who scrupled not to enter into 
whatsoever house they pleased, without regarding the ter- 
ror or protestations of the occupants. Such was the conduct 
of the British government in this City, at a thue when the 
least disloyalty would have been deemed an unpardonable 
offence : strange as it may appear, these outrages upon the 
inhabitants were perpetrated without the shadow of oppo- 
sition." 

In the year '58, a great degree of military excitement per- 
vaded the colonies, in consequence of the vigorous efforts 
of Mr. Pitt, to retrieve the losses and disgrace which had 
attended the British arms for several preceding campaigns in 
the war, which at that period raged with great violence, be- 
tween France and Great Britain. Colonel Willett, prompted 
by the ardour of youth, and fired by a natural enthusiasm, 
caught the general flame ; and a relation of the family who 
was in the pubhc service, offering his assistance to procure 
him a commission in the army, he eagerly embraced the 
offer : shortly after, he received a second lieutenant's com- 
mission in a colonial regiment. 

The regiment with which Colonel Willett was con- 
nected had been raised in the colony of New- York. It 
consisted of three battalions of nine hundred men each ; 
and was commanded by OUver Delancy, brotlier to James 
Delancy, at that thne Lieutenant Governor of the colony of 
New-York. The company -to which Colonel Willett was 



11 

attached, was composed of men raised on Long Island, 
and was placed under (he command of Thomas Williams, 
a man of activity and courage. 

Colonel Willett has left the following description of the 
dress which, as a lieutenant, he wore upon this his youthful 
campaign. It may be gratifying to those who are fond of 
the mosl common reliques of past times, to preserve it in this 
place. It consisted of a green coat, trimmed with silver 
twist, white under clothes and black gaiters ; also a cocked 
hat, with a large black cockade of silk ribbon, together with 
a silver button and loop. 

Thus equipped, between the age of seventeen and eighteen, 
on the seventh of May, Lieutenant Willett left New-York 
with his regiment. Uj)on the arrival of the regiment at 
Albany, orders were received to marcli up tlic Mohawk river, 
in order to guard the settlements which had already been 
formed along that rich tract of country, against the in- 
cursions of the French and Indians. The march from Al- 
bany to Schenectady was the first lie ever made ; and as 
the day was warm, and the road sandy, he was excessively 
fatigued; more so, he says, than upon any other march, 
though he afterwards made many a heavy and fatiguing one. 

After remaining for the space of two weeks as a guard to 
the inhabitants along the river, the regiment was ordered to 
join the main army, under General Abercrombie, comman- 
der-in-chief, which was assembling at the south end of 
Lake George. Arriving at the general place of rendezvous, 
the utmost activity was found to prevail throughout every 
department of the army, owing chiefly to the spirited exer- 
tions of the gallant and amiable Howe. This most promis- 
ing and heroic English nobleman, appears to have quickly 
gained the universal esteem and affection of the army. His 
manners were easy ; his carriage unassuming ; his dress 



12 

very plain. In the midst of the most unceasing activity in 
receiving and inspecting the troops, disciphning them, 
introducing a reform in tlieir dress, and looking into tlie 
minutiaj of every department of the army, his deportment 
was uniformly gentle and modest. In fine, the ability and 
industry whicli he displayed, marked him out, to use Colonel 
Willett's expression, as the life and soul of the army — as the 
individual upon whose exertions the success of the cam- 
paign mainly depended. 

The dihgence and activity with which the necessary pre- 
parations were made, enabled the commander-in-chief to 
open the campaign at an early period in tlie season : a circum- 
stance of the utmost importance, as perhaps to this cause 
was owing the utter failure of several preceding campaigns. 
Accordingly, on the fifth day of June, soon after day-break, 
the army, consisting of sixteen thousand troops, embarked 
in batteaux, whale-boats, and flats, and proceeded with much 
beauty and regularity along the Lalce.* 

At sunset the troops reached a place called Sabaday's 
Point, where they landed. Fires were lighted along (he 
shore, as far as the troops extended. Here the army re- 
mained until midnight; wlien, re-embarking and pursu- 
ing their course, they arrived at the north end of ilie 
Lake, at the dawn of day. At tliis spot the enemy had a 
post : the landing of the army was liowever effected with 
but a slight opposition ; and the troops formed along the 



* This passage across Lake George is thus described in Dr. DwiHit's 
1 ravels : On the fifth the whole army, except a reserve, left for the protec; ion 
ot this spot, embarked in a tliousand and tliirty-five boats, will, all the splen- 
dour of military parade The morning was remarkahly briglit and hcautifuJ; 
and the fleet moved with exact rcguiariiy to the sound of fine mania I music- 
the ensigns waved and glittered in the sunbeams; and the anrl.Mnaiion of 
imure triumph shone in every eye; above, beneath, around, tl.e sceliery was 
that of enchantment; and rarely has the sun, since that hnninnrv was first 
ugnted up in the heavens, dawned on such a complication of beauty and 
Baagniucence. ■' 



13 

margin of the shore in good order, and with e:5:pedition. 
Two French regular soldiers who happened to lie near 
where Lieutenant Wil'lett landed, were the first persons he 
ever saw scalped. They were killed in the slight rencontre 
that ensued at the disembarkation of the troops ; and their 
scalps were taken off by some Indians of the Stockbridge 
tribe, who crossed the Lake with the army. 

After a short halt, the troops began to move towards 
Ticonderoga through woods in columns by regiments. Good 
order prevailed throughout the army ; and the prospect of 
success was flattering. 

Tiie eve of battle is a moment of breathless anxiety ; not 
perhaps always unmixed with fear. Colonel Willett pre- 
served a distinct recollection of his feelings when about to 
engage for the first time in battle. He says, that neither 
at this time, nor upon any subsequent occasion, did he ex- 
perience the least degree of fear. On the contrary, he 
uniformly found his spirits elated, as the crisis approached. 
And that now, when expecting every instant to come in 
contact with the enemy, though young and imacquainted 
with danger, his spirits were highly exhilarated. 

The army had not proceeded above two miles on their 
march, when an ambush of the enemy was discovered, not 
far from the column in which Lieutenant Willett marched. 
Lord Howe was soon in front of the column. But at the 
very moment when this gallant officer had placed himself 
in a most conspicuous situation, and was employed in anima- 
ting the troops, he received a shot which put an instant pe- 
riod to his life. Thus fell this interesting nobleman. The 
ambuscade was formed principally of French regular troops, 
said to be under one thousand, who were soon dispersed, kil- 
led or made prisoners. But the confusion which followed this 
unexpected attack was extremely great : indeed after the 



14 

death of Lord Howe the troops in general seemed to be des- 
titute of command. Wandering parties from different quar- 
ters were firing on each other when there was not an enemy 
to be found. The shaking of a leaf would set a whole 
line of troops firing, and frequently running. In one in- 
stance, through a false alarm, upwards of a thousand men, 
including olficers, ran into the river, where they were in 
danger of drowning. 

This disorder continued throughout the remainder of the 
day. The different corps intermixed with each other ; and 
the whole army was little better than a wandering rabble, 
moving from place to place, witliout appearing to have any 
definite object in view. Not an officer of distinction ap- 
peared to direct their movements. 

During this state of disorder. Lieutenant Willett con- 
nected himself with one Muncey, an Lishman by birth, an 
adjutant in his regiment, and who had seen regular service. 
The exertions of this officer, together with his commanding 
appearance, enabled him to collect several himdred men 
in a body, of whom he assumed the command. With the 
utmost difficulty these men were made to move in tolerable 
order. While this party were pursuing their devious course 
through the woods, they accidentally fell in with the com- 
mander-in-chief. The poor old gentleman was standing 
under a huge tree, wrapped in a large cloak, with two regu- 
lar regiments draw^n up around him to defend his person. 
This was the only instance in which Lieutenant Willett saw 
troops under regular command, after tlie disorder occasioned 
by the first attack. One would be ready to suppose that the 
body of troops witli which Lieutenant Willett was connected, 
having fallen in with the commander-in-chief, would have 
received directions for their movements ; but no orders were 
given, and they continued to wander about among the 



15 

woods, under the idea of clearing tliem of the enemy, until 
night overtook them. They hahed when they could no 
longer see ; then wrapping themselves up in the best man- 
ner they were able, they lay down close together in order to 
keep each other warm. Tlie fatigue and weariness of the 
day, and having had no sleep the preceding night, soon 
threw Lieut. Willctt into a deep sleep ; so that he passed the 
night with some degree of comlbrt. On rising in the morn- 
ing, he perceived that his party had passed the night near 
the spot where the action commenced, as a number of 
naked corpses were lying aroimd them. 

It was ten o'clock in the morning before Muncey with his 
party reached the place of their former landing. The 
greater part of the troops had arrived at this place before 
them. It was past noon before the aimy recommenced 
their march towards Ticonderoga. When within three 
miles of the Fort, they hahed, and encamped for the night 
in the woods, without tents. 

Early the following morning, the army was increased by 
the arrival of abovU six hundred Indians, under the command 
of Sir ^Villiam Johnson. These Indians crossed the river, 
and went on the hill opposite the Fort, where they made a 
great yelling and firing, which appears to have been a 
needless manoeuvre, for they could hardly hope by this 
course to intimidate the enemy, as they were perfectly 
familiar with the Indian yell and war-whoop. 

By nine o'clock in the morning, every part of this large 
and well-furnished army was in motion. The regiment 
with which Lieutenant Willctt was connected, moved in 
files towards Lake Champlain, intending to strike the lake 
between the Fort and Crown Point, at a distance of two 
miles from the Fort. On their march, they fell in with other 
bodies of troops, who appeared to be at a loss respecting the 



16 

ground they were ordered to occupy, for the want of expe- 
rienced g-uides. It was just noon, when the guide who had 
undertaken to direct the regiment to which Lieut. Wil- 
lett belonged, conceiving that he was too far tp the left, 
inclined suddenly to the right. Lieut. Willett was with the 
advanced guard of liis regiment, when some French regulars 
were discovered in a thicket, who, on being challenged, began 
to run, when they were fired at and pursued. In the eager- 
ness of pursuit the regmient became entangled among fallen 
trees ; and at that moment, a cleared field opening to their 
view, they saw the enemy striking their tents. Endeavour- 
ing still to advance, with all possible expedition, they were 
suddenly checked by a very heavy fire of musketry and 
grape-shot. It was then for the first time discovered, that 
they were directly under the enemy's breast-work ; and that 
the fallen trees were intended as abbatis. Though taken by 
surprise, the regiment supported their ground, by returning 
as effective a fire as was in their power. In a short time 
several regiments were seen moving towards the enemy's 
\yorks on their right. The regiments which Lieut. Willett 
noticed particularly, were the 55th, Gage's light infantry, 
and the Highland Watch. These troops moved on very 
rapidly, until they became entangled among the fallen trees ; 
when they made sudden halts, and commenced an ineffec- 
tual firing. 

The greater part of the army appeared now to be engaged 
in endeavouring to force the enemy's works. In the mean- 
while the enemy's fire was doing immense execution. The 
English and Colonial troops fell in every direction, while, 
to add to their mortification, it was impossible for them, 
under their present mode of attack, without artillery, to 
make the least impression upon the enemy. The troops 
laboured also under another dilBculty in consequence of 



17 

the order in which they marclied. In the exercise then 
in use, a file consisted of three men : one fib'ng- to what 
was termed the front, one the centre, and one the rear rank. 
In such files, the troops marched to flie attack. They were, 
therefore, not in a condition to support each other, neither 
were they able to force the enemy's works. Some of the 
troops, where the abbatis were not so thick, advanced close to 
the enemy's breast work ; and a few individuals, with the 
utmost gallantry, mounted them : but not being sufficiently 
supported, they were instantly cut down, or made prisoners. 
This was the case with the sergeant major of Lieut. Willett's 
regiment, who was taken prisoner, and carried to Canada ; 
and with whom Lieut. Willett conversed after his release. 

In the mean while, the ranks of the British and the colo- 
nists continued to lessen very fast. The wounded were 
every moment carried off: the dead strewed the ground. 
A "Severe firing was kept up upwards of five hours ; and it 
was near sun-set before it entirely ceased. Tlie troops with- 
drew without order, and night overtook them before they 
were able to carry off all their wounded. 

Lieutenant Willett's inexperience rendered him entirely 
ignorant of what was next to be done. Under the impres- 
sion that the Fort was to be taken at all hazards ; and hav- 
ing that morning seen some heavy artillery moving in flats, 
along the shore, he drew the conclusion, that another attack 
was to be made the next day, aided by heavy artillery. 
With this expectation, and being very much fatigued, he 
retired with about thirty men of his regiment to a hill, not 
above a mile distant from the ground where the attack 
was first made. Here they kindled a fire, and having col- 
lected some canteens of water and a few biscuits, they re- 
freshed themselves and lay down to rest. A number of 

fires, lighted in various directions around them, showed that 

3 



18 

others were following their example, and, after the fatigues 
and perils of the day, were retiring for repose. 

In a few minutes Lieut. Willett was fast asleep. He was 
awakened before morning by some one pulling him violently, 
and informing him, that the troops were already on their 
march back to the place of landing. He, of course, with 
the rest of his company, set out for the old spot, by making 
towards the river, and then keeping near its shore. They 
reached the landing about eight o'clock in the morning, and 
found the troops embarking in a very confused manner. As 
there was no enemy to interrupt them, all the troops who 
aiTived, were placed in safety on board the boats. But as to 
the wounded, some were left in the woods, and no incon- 
siderable number in the field where the action occurred, not 
far from the enemy's works. 

This last fact was fully proved by subsequent accounts. 
Among others, a very tragical one respecting Colonel Beav'er, 
who was a lieutenant colonel in a regular British regiment. 
He was a young gentleman of a distinguished family in 
England : much respected and beloved. His loss was 
greatly lamented ; and he was supposed to have been killed 
in the action. But it afterwards appeared, that he remained 
on the field badly wounded ; and was discovered the morn- 
ing after the action, by a French officer, who was sent out 
with a small detachment to reconnoitre. Colonel Beaver 
was sitting on the stump of a tree when the party came 
along; and having made himself known to the French 
officer, requested to be taken under his protection. The 
officer informed him that this was not in his power, until he 
had gone to the top of a hill, not more than a hundred yards 
distant : he assured him, however, that upon his return, 
which would be in a very short time, he might depend up- 
on his protection, cuid upon a safe conveyance to the Fort. 



19 

The officer, however, had proceeded but a short distance, 
when, hearing a cry, he turned around and saw an Indian 
scalping the unfortunate colonel. It was said that tlie offi- 
cer, upon his return, informed the French commandant. 
General Montcalm, of this distressing case ; and endeavoured 
to have the Indian, who perpetrated the deed, punished, on 
the ground that the Indian was present, and witnessed the 
surrender of Colonel Beaver. But Montcalm replied, " that 
in their situation it ^vould not do to offend the Indians."* 

In such haste and confusion did the English army retreat, 
after the failure of the ill-concerted attack upon the Fort at 
Ticonderoga. This retreat was the more ignominious, for 
though General Abercrombie had sustained a loss of nearly 
two thousand men in killed and wounded, yet there still 
remained fourteen thousand effective troops : a force so 
much superior to that of the enemy that there w^as no reason 



* A piece of poetry which appeared some time after this disaster in a British 
Magazine, and wiiich was said to liave been enclosed in a letter to the father 
of Col. Beaver, made such an impression on Col. Willett's mind as induced 
him to commit it to memory. The reader perliaps will be pleased to see it 
in this place. 

" Tell me," says Cato, " where you found 

" My boy ; and how he fell ? 
"In front ; — and in his breast the wound. 

" I thank the gods, — 'tis well. 
" Thus the stern Stoic sooth'd his grief, 

" And check'd the rising moan, 
" By making honour his relief, 
" And connnon good his own." 

" May you on such reflections dwell, 
When you behold this urn ; 
And as he like a Roman fell, 
So like a Roman mourn. 

" True he was young, and brave as young, 
And generous as brave ; 
Yet every virtue could not long 
Or him, or Marius save. 

" Save not even Howe, in arms so great, 
By all admired, adored ; 
While nations trembled at the fate 
Depending on his sword." 



20 

to apprehend an attack from them, while the remaining' 
force was sufficiently large to mvest the Fort. Reinforce- 
ments too might undoubtedly have been obtained if neces- 
sary : so that a siege might with safety have been com- 
menced, which, if conducted with any degree of vigour, 
would MOon have compelled the garrison to surrender. But 
to abandon the project altogether, and to retreat in so 
precipitate and disorderly a manner, leaving a number of 
brave men wounded to be cruelly sacrificed, evinced such 
terror as must have destroyed for a time even the power of 
reflection.* 

The army having safely re-crossed the Lake, landed at 
the south end of it, early in the evening-, where they en- 
camped on their former ground. 

The day after the army had returned to their encampment, 
the regiment to which Lieut. Willett belonged, received 
orders to march up the Mohawk river ; and in about two 
weeks they arrived at the portage, between the waters of the 
Mohawk and Ontario, at the head of Wood Creek. At this 
place an army of about six thousand men was assembled, 
under the command of General Stanwix ; and a plan was 
laid out for a fort, which was afterwards erected, and 
called Fort Stanwix. 

It was evident that preparations were making for a secret 
expedition. Parties were employed in erecting a dam at the 
head of Wood Creek ; conveying batteaux and provisions to 
the same place ; and removing various obstructions to the 
navigation of the stream. These measures were conducted 
with great despatch by Colonel Bradstreet, who in two 
weeks from the time of his arrival at the portage, com- 
menced his march with about three thousand men. The 

* See Appendix, No. 1. 



21 

whole of this force consisted of provincial troops, with the 
exception of one independent regular company, commanded 
by Captain Ogilvie ; and a company of artillery, under the 
command of Captain Stevens. One thousand men were cho- 
sen from the regiment to which Lieut. Willett belonged, to be 
employed in this expedition. The captain of his company 
remaining behind, he was annexed with thirty men to 
another compan}', commanded by Captain Thomas Arrow- 
smith, an active, good officer. 

Colonel Bradstreet, who commanded this expedition, was 
well qualified for the enterprise : the success of which 
depended very much upon the celerity of his movements. 
The troops passed down Wood Creek with all the expedition 
in their power, though they were greatly impeded by the 
lowness of the water, and obstructions occasioned by trees, 
which the year before had been felled across the Creek 
by order of General Webb, after the loss of Fort William 
Henry : a measure which savoured more of timidity than 
skill. 

Although Colonel Bradstreet used the greatest exertion, 
yet six days elapsed before he reached Oswego. At this 
place he remained a few hours, inspecting the troops, their 
arms and ammunition, and repairing the injuries the boats 
had received in their portage at the falls, and passage 
down the rapids. It was near dusk when the troops 
embarked on board vessel;^, provided to transport them over 
Lake Ontario. Keeping near the shore of the Lake during 
the night, on account of the danger to which the boats would 
be exposed by crossing at a distance from the land, caused 
some delay, so that they did not arrive in sight of Fort 
Frontinac, the place of destination, until the evening of the 
third day, after leaving Oswego. 



22 

They landed in the night, within two miles of the Fort. 
The day following, the greater part of the men were em- 
ployeb in the woods, in making gabions and fascines. 
During this day, their ordnance, consisting of two small 
mortars, was also landed, and having been erected about 
three quarters of a mile from the Fort, shells were fired at 
intervals, the greater part of the day. The enemy also 
kept up a constant fire from the Fort ; but their fire as well 
as ours was without effect. Towards evening, the enemy 
had the misfortune to blow up one of their magazines, by 
which a hreach was made in one of their bastions. 

Shortly after it was dark, a detachment of nine hun- 
dred men marched towards the Fort. Every man had a 
bundle of fascines in his hand, or every two men carried 
between them a gabion on a pole. Advancing in this 
order, through a hollow way, they took possession of a 
small eminence, only a hundred and seventy-five yards 
from the Fort, where they commenced the erection of a 
breastwork, with two embrasures. Colonel Bradstreet was 
himself present when this work was laid out, and remained 
to inspect its progress, until it was in a state of considerable 
forwardness. Five hundred men of the regiment with 
which Lieuf. Willett was connected, were chosen for this 
service, and placed vmder the command of Lieut. Colonel 
Curea. Lieut. Willett, whose fortune it was to be placed 
in exposed points during the various scenes of the campaign, 
was one of this detachment. The unavoidable noise, occa- 
sioned by the erection of these works, soon discovered to the 
enemy what was going on, who directed against them a con- 
stant fire of grape-shot and musketry during the whole of the 
night. Such, however, was the diligence and celerity which 
had been used during the night, that by day-light, the breast. 



23 

work was sufficiently high to cover the men, together with 
ivvo brass twelve-pounders. As soon as the cannon were 
mounted, a fire was commenced against the Fort, and kept 
up as briskly as possible. A brig which lay under the Fort 
got under sail, but was soon made to run on shore by the 
fire of a fosv shot from the twelve-pounders. By nine o'clock 
the beating of the chamade by the enemy brought on a 
parley, which terminated in a surrender of the garrison with 
all its contents before twelve o'clock at noon. The enemy 
who were made prisoners of war, were suffered to go into 
Canada on the promise of the commandant to send an 
equal number in exchange.* 

The afternoon of the day on which the Fort was taken, 
was spent in destroying the works, sending off the most 
valuable articles, setting fire to the buildings, blowing up 
the magazines, and burning all the vessels of the enemy, 
(of which they had nine) with the exception of two, in 
which had been deposited the most valuable articles taken 
from the Fort. The design of the expedition being thus 
accomplished, the detachment set out on its return, having 
lost but one man, and eleven wounded, but none of them 
dangerously. They proceeded to the island where they 
halted when they first came in view of the Fort. Early 
the next morning all the troops were on Ijoard the boats on 
their way back to Oswego. At Oswego the batteaux were 
loaded with the goods which had been placed in the 
enemy's vessels : after which the vessels themselves were 
set on fire. The troops then proceeded with as much expe- 
dition as possible to Oswego Falls. 

At Oswego Falls they had a portage of a mile or more. 

* Appendix, No. 2. 



24 

The excessive fatigue of getting the boats, stores, and goods 
across the carrying place, at this portage, added to the great 
exertions they had aheady undergone, and the short time 
allowed for cooking their provisions, consisting of pork and 
flour, had produced violent dysenteries. Unaccustomed to 
such fare, and without proper stores or attendance, the men 
began to die very fast. During the three days that the men 
were employed in dragging the boats up the rapids, and car- 
rying them across the portage, there were near one hun- 
dred deaths. And by the time the troops arrived at Fort 
Bull, which was four miles from the place where they were 
building Fort Stanwix, at least one half of their number 
were unfit for duty. Removing the boats into the Mohawk 
river, and carrying the goods over the portage, was a work 
of four days. 

Here ended with Lieut. Willett the active part of this 
campaign. On the night of his arrival at Fort Stanwix, in 
consequence of the incessant fatigue and exposure, which 
with the rest he had sustained on this last expedition, he 
was taken very ill ; and confined to a tent in the camp until 
the begining of November. Having gained a little strength, 
he was put on board a batteau, and after a most painful 
journey of three days, arrived at Schenectady ; from thence 
he was conveyed to Albany. Here he remained at the 
house of Mr. Sullivan, by w4iom he was most hospitably en- 
tertained, until the first of 'December. The weather having 
become more moderate, and the river which had been frozen 
over having broken up, he commenced his passage for New- 
York ; where he arrived early on the morning of the seventh, 
having been just seven months from home. 

In consequence however of the feeble state of Lieut. Wil- 
lett's health, after his return home, together with the disin- 



25 

clinalion of hi* parents, he did not serve any more during 
the French war. Indeed, the great success which followed 
the British arms in Europe as well as in North America the 
two ensuing" years, brought about a speedy peace between 
France and England. The campaign, however, was not 
wholly without its use to Lieut. Willett, as it gave him 
some insight into a mode of warfare, in which at a late 
period of his life he was peculiarly successful. 



CHAPTER III. 



M9% 



AFFAIR OF BROAD-STREET. 



In the regular British army, left in America, and quar- 
tered in the greater part of the large cities and towns, after 
the close of the French war, we see proofs of the design 
of the English ministry on the colonists. It appeared, 
that the army which had been sent over to the Colonies, to 
protect them from a foreign foe, and in conjunction with 
which force, the colonists themselves had very materially 
aided in obtaining important conquests for the British go- 
vernment, was now in its turn to be employed, in forcing the 
assent of the Colonies to unconstitutional taxation. The 
measures of the ministry soon discovered their hostile in- 
tentions, and excited the vigilance of the citizens. The 
memorable Stamp Act, wliich followed, met with the 
most determined opposition. In the city of New York, 
the inhabitants assembled in a very tumultuous manner. 
Several persons, who had beei^ particularly iiistrumental 
in procuring the passage of that obnoxious measure, 
were hung in effigy, and then burnt. The citizens 
burnt also the governor's coach, and entering the dwell- 
ing of Colonel James, the officer who commanded the 
troops, at that time quartered in the city, and who, with the 
governor, had shut hijiiself up in the Fort, they destroyed 



27 

all the furniture found in his house. The person who had 
been employed to issue the stamped paper, was obliged to 
enter into the most solemn engagements not to act under 
the appointment. The tuninlt continued to rage for several 
days ; nor did it subside, until the most satisfactory assur- 
ances were obtained, from all persons suspected of having any 
agency in supporting, or executing the act, that they would 
desist from the execution of it, and join in an application 
for a repeal of the law. In the mean time, all law proceed- 
ings were suspended, and a total stagnation of every kind of 
business ensued, which could not legally be pursued without 
the use of stamped paper. 

Similar acts of opposition and violence breaking out, 
in every part of the Union, procured, as is well known, 
a sudden repeal of that obnoxious measure. A variety 
of methods were, however, afterwards devised, by the 
British parliament, to force a revenue from the Colonies, 
which finally resulted in the battle of Lexington. 

The news of this memoral^le event was received at New 
York, the Sunday after it took place, and occasioned a general 
insurrection. The people assembled ; and finding themselves 
unable to procure the key of an arsenal, where a number of 
arms belonging to the colonial government were deposited, 
they forced open the door, and took possession of these arms. 
By taking this course, they procured about six hundred mus- 
kets, with bayonets and cartridge-boxes to each, filled with 
ball-cartridges. These arms were distributed among the 
most active of the citizens, who formed themselves into a 
voluntary corps, and assumed the government of the city. 
They took possession of the keys of the custom-house, 
together with all the public stores. There was a general 
stagnation of business. The armed citizens were constantly 
parading about the city, without seeming to have any defi- 



28 

nite object in view. Part of the eighteenth British regi- 
ment, called the Royal Irish, garrisoned in the city, and 
under the command of the major of the regiment, confined 
themselves to their barracks. 

The misystematic manner, however, in which measures 
were conducted, shewed the necessity of forming some regu- 
lar plan of government. To accomplish this object, a meeting 
of the citizens was called at the Merchants' Coffee House, 
where it was unanimously agreed, that the government 
should be placed in the hands of a committee. At the 
same time, solemn resolutions were entered into, to support 
the measures of the committee, until further provision 
should be made by the continental congress. The sacred 
honor of the citizens was also pledged to support the mea- 
sures of congress. 

This committee was limited to one hundred ; and being 
instantly chosen, and entering upon the discharge of their 
duties, restored as much order in the city, as, under circum- 
stances so new and extraordinary, could reasonably be ex- 
pected. As however in the city of NeWrYoik, at this time, 
there was a very large portion of personal influence in favour 
of the British government, many of the members of the 
committee belonged to this party ; but the very strong cur- 
rent of popular feeling in favour of the proceedings of con- 
gress, prevented that influence from interfering essentially 
with the acts of the committee. 

In the midst of this state of general excitement, the 
British troops garrisoned in the city were ordered to join the 
army in Boston. This order could easily have been pre- 
vented, and the troops made prisoners ; but the timidity of 
the committee led them to suppose that such a step could 
not be taken without the loss of a number of lives. They 
therefore agreed to allow them to depart, with their arms 



29 

and accoutrements, without molestation. The troops ac- 
cordingly inarched from their barracks with the intention of 
embarking for Boston, about 10 o'clock in the forenoon of a 
fine pleasant day. There was a public-house in Water- 
street, near Beekman-slip, kept by a Mr. Jasper Drake : 
noted as a place of daily rendezvous for the warm friends of 
congress. It happened that Col. Willett, in company with 
a half dozen more of the same sentiments and spirit as him- 
self, were together at this house, when word was brought 
to them, that the British troops were marching to the place 
of embarkation ; and that in addition to their own arms and 
accoutrements, they were also carrying off with them, on 
carts, chests filled with arms. Col. Willett and those at 
that time with him at Drake's, had been opposed to the per- 
mission granted the troops to depart at any rate ; and being 
further aroused, by the circumstance of their taking with 
them spare arms, not included in the grant of the com- 
naittee, they suddenly determined to hazard the conse- 
quences of seizing these arms. 

In pursuance of this bold and spirited determination, the 
company present set out by agreement on different routes 
through the city to alarm their friends. The route Col. 
Willett took led him to pass the Coffee House, where he 
stopped to give public notice of the course which was in- 
tended to be taken. He next proceeded through Water- 
street to the Exchange, which then stood at the lower end 
of Broad-street. At this place he observed the troops com- 
ing down the street ; upon which he walked up to meet 
them. Coming close to the troops at the corner of Beaver- 
street, in Broad-street, and discovering several carts, loaded 
with cliests of arms in front, under a small guard. Col. 
Willett, without a moment's hesitation, or waiting for any of 
his company to arrive, stopped the horse that was drawing 



3C 

the front cart-load of arms. An immediate bait in the 
whole line of march, of course, followed. This unexpected 
check brought the major of the regiment, who was for the 
time the commanding officer, in front, to inquire into the 
cause of the delay. Col. Willett had the horse by the head 
when he came up, and upon the major's enquiring into the 
meaning of the delay, he informed him that it was done 
with the intention of preventing the spare arms from being 
carried off, as the committee had not granted permission for 
the troops to take away with them any other than the usual 
arms and accoutrements. While Col. Willett was engaged 
in making this statement to the major, David Mathews, 
Esquire, who ^^as at that time mayor of the city, came up, 
and accosted him in the following words : " I am surprised, 
Mr. Willett, that you will hazard the peace and endanger 
the lives of our citizens, when you know that the commit- 
tee have directed that the troops shall be permitted to de- 
part unmolested." It appears that Mr. Mathews was a tor}^ 
and a zealous supporter of the British government. This 
opposition therefore did not intimidate Col. Willett in the 
least, w^ho at once replied, " that the committee had not 
authorized the troops to carry off any spare arms ; and that 
considering the bloody business which had taken place 
among our brethren in Massachusetts, whom they were 
bomid by the ties of honor as well as interest to support, he 
deemed it his duty to prevent these arms from being used 
against them, by detaining them for the defence of his in- 
jured country." 

At this juncture Mr. Governeur Morris came up, and to 
Col. Willett's great astonishment joined with the mayor 
in his opinion. This circumstance rather staggered Colonel 
Willett, as Mr. Morris w^as a w^hig himself, of very respect- 
able connections; and though young, of brilliant talents. 



31 

The Colonel doubted whether all his zeal and enthusiasm 
would have been sufTicient to support him, had it not been 
for the arrival at that critical moment of John Morin Scott, 
who was an influential member of the committee, and 
whose reputation for talent was not surpassed by that of any- 
other individual in the city. He reached the spot, just as 
Colonel Willett was repeating to Mr. Morris the reason of 
his conduct, and exclaimed with a loud voice, "You arc 
right, Willett : the committee have not given them permis- 
sion to carry off any spare arms !" 

The throng of people which had been all this while 
increasing, now pressed- in on every side. Mr. Scott had no 
sooner declared his approbation of the course Colonel Willett 
had taken, when the Colonel turned the front cart to the 
right, and directed the carman to drive up Beaver-street : 
the other carts, loaded with arms, were ordered to follow. 

Mr. Scott having suggested to Col. Willett the propriety of 
his addressing the troops, the Colonel leaped up on a cart, 
and invited such of the troops as felt a repugnance to shed- 
ding the blood of their countrymen, to quit their ranks, and 
come ovcr-to their side : assuring them in such case of pro- 
tection. Upon this one of the soldiers, stepping out of the 
ranks, came over, and was received with three heart}^ huzzas. 
This soldier, together with the carts, five in number, were 
conducted with the continual huzzas of the citizens, through 
Beaver-street, and up Broadway as far as John-street. 

There was in John-street a ball-alley and a large yard 
belonging to Mr. Abraham Van Wyck. Mr. Van Wyck 
was a good whig, who afterwards, when the British took 
the city, was made prisoner, and suffered a long and cruel 
captivity. In his yard the arms were deposited. These 
arms, and those taken possession of immediately after the 
account of the battle of Lexington reached the city, were 



32 

used by the first troops raised in New-York under the orders 
of congress. Tlie British troops meeting with no other 
impediment, agreeably to the order of the committee, 
marclied to the wharf, and embarked amid the hisses of the 
citizens. It was Colonel Willett's opinion then and since, 
that it would have been as easy to have made prisoners of 
all the troops, as it was to seize upon these spare arms. But 
the thoughts of a compromise with the British government 
pervaded our councils and checked the adoption of spirited 
measures. 



CHAPTER IV. 






EXPEDITION TO CANADA. AN ATTACK UPON THE ENEMY 

AT PEEKSKILL. 



During this period of general excitement, in the city of 
New York, the spirit of the sons of hberty, as the firm and 
warm friends of freedom were then denominated, struck 
dismay and confusion among the adherents to the British 
government. An enthusiastic emulation warmed the bo- 
soms of the greater part of the citizens. It was owing to 
this happy turn in the state of public feeling, not only in the 
city, but throughout the colony of New York, that the re- 
cruiting of the troops for the defence of the country, which 
soon after commenced, agreeably to the orders of congress, 
was successfully executed. 

The colony of New York was ordered to raise four regi- 
ments, each regiment to consist of ten companies. The 
companies were directed to contain each seventy-two, rank 
and file, four sergeants, a drum and fife, and to be placed 
under the command of a captuin and two lieutenants. Each 
regiment was to be commanded by a colonel, a lieutenant- 
colonel, and a major. Of the three regiments, the city of 
New York was to furnish one. 

Alexander McDougall, one of the prominent characters of 
llie day, and a man of considerable talents, was appointed 
colonel of one of these regiments. The lieutenant-colonel 



34 



P 



♦ 



was Adolph. Ritzma, the son of a respectable minister of the 
Dutch congregation of the city of New York, who, it was 
understood, had been in tlie Dutch service in Europe. The 

major of the regiment was Sedwitz, said to have 

been an officer in the service of Switzerland, his native 
country. Both these men, Ritzma and Sedwitz, proved to 
be, not only disqualified for the commands which they re- 
ceived, but traitors to the cause they professed to espouse. 

After having, upon a variety of occasions shewn their in- 
capacity, and having engaged in traitorous combinations, (for 
which one of them, the major, was apprehended and con- 
fined,) they both, finally, made their escape to the enemy. 
In the commencement of the revolution, the inexperience 
of the citizens led frequently to injudicious appointments. 
We were crowded with foreign impositions, and domestic 
ignorance. On this accoiurt, it is a greater cause of sur- 
prise, that the country should be able to support itself at all, 
than that it should meet with frequent disappointments and 
defeats ; especially, when the almost total want of arms, am- 
munition, and money, is taken into consideration. The suc- 
cessful result of the war, under providence, is cbiefly to be 
attributed to that happy enthusiasm, under the direction of 
the immortal Washington, which pervaded the great body of 
the people. 

To the first New York regiment, commanded by Colonel 
McDougall, Colonel Willett was appointed the second cap- 
tain. The first captain was Frederic Wisenfelts, a Prussian, 
who had been engaged in the Prussian service. In the 
war between Great Britain and France, he had been a lieu- 
tenant in the royal American regiment. Wisenfelts was a 
good officer, and had served with reputation during the 
greatest part of the war. So nice were his feelings of honour, 
as it respects the rank he held in the army, that he became 



35 

deranged when the reform took place* in the army, in the 
year 1780, by which his regiment became incorporated with 
another, the colonel of which was older than himself, and 
consequently assumed the command. 

Colonel Willett received his appointment to the command 
of a company on the 28th of June, in the year 1775. He 
was in his thirty-fifth year. His health, his strength, the 
buoyancy of his spirits, his enthusiasm, were his principal 
qualifications. His company was one of the first that was 
recruited, and ready to take the field. On the 8th of Au- 
gust, he embarked on board of a sloop, with his company, 
for Albany, armed with those muskets which had been taken 
from the enemy. He arrived at Albany after a passage of 
four days. Three other companies arrived at the same time, 
under the command of colonel Ritzma. They were review- 
ed together by General Montgomery. After remaining a 
few days at Albany, they marched to Half-moon Point, from 
whence, after a half of a week, thej'^ proceeded to Ticonde- 
roga, by the way of Skeenesborough. Here they were 
joined by a regiment of troops from Connecticut, commanded 
by Colonel Waterbury, and some other small detachments 
from New England. 

On the twenty-ninth of August the troops, amounting to 
about one thousand men, under the command of General 
Montgomery, embarked on board batteaux, having an 
armed sloop and two other vessels of less force, to escort 
them over the Lake. On the 4tli of September they landed 
on the Ile-aux-Noix, where they were joined by General 
Schuyler : upon whom, as the senior officer, the command 
then devolved. September the 6th, all the troops, with the 
exception of a detachment of one hundred men, who were 
left as a guard to the island, set out for St. John's, with the 
intention of investing and taking the fort at that place. 



36 

The troops having kuided, had proceeded hut a few 
hundred yards towards the fort, when they received a fire 
from an amhuscade of hidians. The fire was quickly re- 
turned ; and the Indians soon fled. It was afterwards ascer- 
tained, that the loss of the Americans and that of the Indians 
was nearly equal. They had six killed and ten wounded. 

At present, how^ever, nothing of importance v/as at- 
tempted. The fort was found to be too well fortified to 
attempt to take it by storm. The troops remained under 
arms during the night ; and the next day returned to the 
Ile-aux-Noix. Here they were daily reinforced by small 
detachments. On the tenth day of the month, one thou- 
sand troops, under the command of General Montgomery, 
proceeded again towards St. John's ; and landed just at dusk, 
about two miles from the fort. From this place, Colonel 
Ritzma was detached with five hundred men to take post 
below the fort, in order to cut off the supply of the enemy. 
Captain Willett was with this detachment. As they were 
marching along the river, a few Indians from a log-house, 
which they had to pass, gave them a fire without doing any 
injury ; two of the Indians were killed. This trifling im- 
pediment, owing to the conduct of Colonel Ritzma, balked 
the design of the expedition. General Montgomery, exceed- 
dingly chagrined and mortified, returned the following day 
to Ile-aux-Noix. 

Here they remained until the seventeenth : when having 
received a small supply of ammunition, two nine-pounders, 
and two small mortars ; and their force being augmented 
to near two thousand men, the army once more embarked 
under the command of General Montgomery, (General 
Schuyler on account of ill health liaving returned to Ticon- 
deroga,) and landed late in the day at the place where the 
troops first disembarked. They passed the night without 



87 

interruption. Tlie next morning a dcladimcnt of five 
hundred nicn passed the fort, and took their station at the 
post which Colonel Ritznia had been formerly ordered to oc- 
cupy. General Montgomery accompanied this detachment, 
and having succeeded in stationing it to his mind, returned 
to the place of landing. At this spot, ground was marked 
out for the troops to encamp. The distance from the fort 
being about a mile and a half, it was now regularly 
invested. In three or four days two batteries were erected : 
one between eight and nine hundred yards from the fort, 
on a point of land which overlooked it. On this battery 
two long iron nine-pounders were mounted. The other bat- 
tery was erected about six hmidred yards from the fort, in 
the woods ; on which two small mortars were placed. 

During the greater part of the time that these works 
were going on, the enemy sent shot and shells. Four or 
five men were killed and wounded : but on account of their 
scanty supply of ammunition, the Americans were obliged to 
practice a rigid economy, so that little effect was produced 
by their fire : while the enemy, who were well furnished, 
returned ten shot for one. 

About this time. General Montgomery was joined by a com- 
pany of artillery, from New-York, under the command of 
Captain John Lamb. This company brought with them a 
small assortment of ordnance, stores, and some ammunition. 
A few days after they received a thirteen inch-mortar ; so 
that some shot and shells were fired every day. The fire of 
the enemy, however, annoyed even their camp ; while their 
elevated shot reached beyond it. Few were the means of 
the American northern army ; but (hey made the most of 
them. After a sufficient trial, finding that but little was 
clTected by their present position, a battery was erected on 
the opposite shore, nearer the fort, on the night of the sixth 



38 

of October, consisting of three guns, which considerably- 
annoyed the enemy. 

At Chambly, twelve miles lower down the river, was a 
fort, garrisoned with upwards of one hundred and forty 
men, and commanded by Major Stopford. As soon as Gen. 
Montgomery was enabled, by re-inforcements, which were 
daily arriving, to lay siege to this place, its untenable 
situation soon brought on a capitulation, by which the gar- 
rison became prisoners of war. The stores taken at Cham- 
bly, and particularly the ammunition, were of great assis- 
tance.* This timely acquisition enabled the General to 
open a powerful battery against the fort at St. John's, from 
the north side. On the 3d of November the enemy were 
compelled to enter into articles of capitulation, surrendering 
themselves prisoners of war. The fort contained, besides 
the cannon mounted on it, a handsome train of artillery. 

These successes deservedly procured General Montgomery 
the high encomiums of his country. Hard indeed was the 
work in which he was engaged. With awkward, undisci- 
plined troops, diflicult to control, to lie six weeks exposed 
to severe weather, on marshy, damp ground, without the 
means of makings any serious impression upon the enemy, 
until he had supplied himself from their arsenals, required 
no common share of address, fortitude, and patience. 

After the capture of Fort St. John's, Captain Willett was 
ordered with his company to escort the prisoners taken at 
Chambly, to Ticonderoga, so that he did not reach Montreal 
until the 23d of November. Having waited upon General 
Montgomery, he was directed to take command of Fort St. 
John's, where he remained until January ; when the term 
for which his men were enlisted expiring, he was relieved, 

* " A hundred and twenty-four barrels of powder were obtained on tliis 
occasion, besides a few pieces of cannon." 



39 

and again rctiu-ncd to Montreal. On the 18th of February 
he once more left that city for Albany, having the charge of 
some British officers and their families, who had been per- 
mitted, for their accommodation, to remoin at Montreal until 
this time. He arrived at Albany towards the close of Feb- 
ruary, from whence, on the 1st of March, he set out on horse- 
back for New York, which place he reached the evening of 
the fifth day of the month. 

The war having now assumed a more severe and threat- 
ening aspect, and every circumstance conspiring to render 
it likely that it would be of long duration, the importance of 
a regular and permanent army appeared daily more and 
more apparent. Congress at length determined upon 
that measure ; and issued orders at first for the enlistment 
of men for the whole war; but finding afterwards that 
the army recruited slowly for a term so indefinite, they 
ordered enlistments to be made for a term not less than 
three years. 

According to this new arrangement, the different pro- 
vinces were required to furnish eighty-eight battalions. Of 
this number, New York was to furnish four. Among the 
number of appointments that were made for the troops thus 
newly raised. Colonel Willelt received, towards the end of 
November of this year, ('76,) that of Lieutenant Colonel to 
the thhd New York regiment. Along with this appoint- 
ment, he received orders to repair to Fishkill, in order to 
recruit for the regiment. He was diligently employed 
during the winter in raising recruits, who, as they arrived, 
were drilled and clothed, as well as the situation of things 
would admit. 

At the opening of spring, he w^as directed to march the 
troops to Fort Constitution, which garrison was placed under 
his command. The second and fourth New York regiments, 



40 

which, with his, had rendezvoused during the winter at 
Fislikill, having previously marched to the hues, in West 
Chester County, and the fifth regiment having been sent 
to garrison Fort Montgomery, Colonel Willett's station, 
in the rear of the whole, left him a poor prospect of being 
soon called into active -service. This interval of leisure was 
not lost; but was diligently employed in disciplining his 
troops. An unexpected opportunity of action, however, soon 
occurred. 

On Sunday, the 22nd of March, just as the troops were 
parading for a field review, according to their usual custom 
every Sunday, Colonel Willett was informed, by express 
from General McDougall, (who commanded in this depart- 
ment, and was stationed at Peekskill, with the second and 
fourth New York regiments, and a detachment of Colonel 
Lamb's regiment of artillery,) that the enemy, having landed 
at that place, had caused him to retire to the high ground, 
at the entrance of the high lands. Colonel Willett was 
directed, after leaving a guard to take charge of the fort, to 
march the remainder of the troops to barracks, near where 
General McDougall had taken his quarters. Accordingly, 
the troops, with the exception of the guard, left to defend 
the fort, were immediately marched from the parade ground 
to the scene of action. They arrived at the barracks assign- 
ed them, about three o'clock, p. m. Colonel Willett reported 
himself, without delay, to the general, whom he found on 
the top of a hill, which overlooked all the country around 
Peekskill. 

Just after Colonel Willett had made his report to the 
general, he saw the enemy set fire to a house near which 
they had posted a guard of about one hundred men. This 
small detachment of the enemy was stationed on a hill, six 
or seven hundred yards before their main body, while a con- 



41 

Biddable ravine lay between them. Conceiving it probable, 
that by a quick movement to the rear of this advanced body 
of the enemy, they might be attacked with advantage, 
and perhaps all of them taken, he proposed to General 
McDougall to make the experiment, with the troops which 
had arrived with him, provided the general, by a movement 
on Colonel Willett's left, would attract the attention of the 
enemy's main body. The proposal was objected to by 
General McDougall, who was of opinion that the enemy's 
force Avas too great for the hazard : he also expected con- 
siderable re-inforcements of the militia by the next morning, 
when he intended to advance upon tlie enemy. Colonel 
Willett, however, continuing to be a spectator of the depre- 
dations the enemy were committing, and feeling an earnest 
desire to check them, then requested permission to make the 
attack with his own troops. After a considerable time, and 
with much entreaty, General McDougall granted the re- 
quest. But though Colonel Willett formed and marched his 
troops with the utmost celerity, yet, having two fences to 
cross, the sun was set before he could get sufficiently near 
the enemy, to make a charge with bayonets. In making 
this movement, they had received several fires from the 
enemy, but as soon as they rushed upon them with their 
bayonets, they fled. Their escape was aided by the darkness 
which followed. 

Col. Willett was of the opinion, that if the attack had 
been made earlier, and followed up with resolution, there 
was but little doubt that the greater part of the ene- 
my, the whole of whose force did not exceed six hundred 
men, might have been destroyed or taken. So great was 
their alarm, that in the course of two hours they were all 
on board of their shipping. What baggage the enemy had 
Uras left. It consisted only of a few blankets and cloaks. 

6 



42 

Col. Willett had but two men killed, and four or five wound- 
ed. A blue camlet cloak, taken here, served afterwards to 
make the blue stripes of the flag which was hoisted during 
the siege of Fort Stanwix.* 

The day after the hasty departure of the enemy from 
Peekskill, Col. Willett returned with his troops to Fort Con- 
stitution, where he remained until the 18th of May, em- 
ployed in disciplining his recruits. Having been ordered to 
remove to Fort Stanwix, he set out for Albany with his re- 
giment on board of three sloops, which place he reached the 
21st. From Albany he went to Schenectady, and from 
thence to Fort Stanwix : but, owing to the number of 
loaded batteaux they had to take with them, they did not 
reach the Fort until the 29th. 

* Appendix, No. 3. 



CHAPTER V. 



>oroc 



SIEGE OF FORT STANWIX. 



Upon Colonel Willett's arrival at Fort Stanwix, of which 
Colonel Gansevoort was the commandant, and himself the 
second in command, the fort was in a weak and untena- 
ble state. This fort, built where the village of Rome 
now stands, about half a mile from the Erie canal, was 
considered to be at that early period the principal key to the 
whole of the Mohawk country. It had been built, as we 
have seen, by General Stanwix, in the year 1758. It was 
a square fort,* with four bastions, surrounded by a ditch of 
considerable width and depth, with a covert way, and 
glacis around three of its angles ; the other being sufficiently 
secured by low, marshy ground. In front of the gate there 
had been a drawbridge, covered by a salient angle, raised 
in front of it on the glacis. In the centre of the ditch, a 
row of perpendicular pickets had been erected, with rows 
of horizontal pickets fixed around the ramparts imder the 
embrasures. But since the conclusion of the French war 
the fort had fallen into decay ; the ditch was filled up, the 
pickets had rotted and fallen down. 

* See in Appendix No. 4, a plate of the fort. 



44 

The engineer who had been employed to repair the forti- 
fications was a French gentleman ; but was wholly incom- 
petent to his task. Instead of repairing the works after the 
manner of their original construction, which could easily 
have been done, — for though in a state of decay, the princi- 
pal outlines of the old fort were still sufficiently visible, — 
the engineer sent out large parties to procure logs from a 
swamp. Having ordered them to be drawn near the fort, 
he began to erect them in the covert way, and not in the 
centre of the ditch, where they had formerly been placed. 
After having with much labour procured the logs, it appear- 
ed that each log was seven feet longer than was necessary ; 
the logs being seventeen feet in length, when the pickets 
that were to be made of them only recpiired ten feet. This 
blunder of the engineer, together with the general remiss- 
ness he shewed at so critical a moment, led Col. Willett to 
suggest to Col. Gansevoort the propriety of discharging him 
from the office he filled. Col. Gansevoort, however, from 
the circumstance that the engineer had been appointed 
by the commander in chief of the northern department, 
General Schuyler, to superintend the fortifications, Avas 
reluctant to take this step. 

The fortifications consequently continued to go on under 
the superintendance of the engineer. The barracks were 
repaired within the fort, and a large and commodious build- 
ing, intended for this purpose, was erected a little beyond the 
foot of the glacis. But all these works were of secondary 
importance : indeed the barrack out of the fort at the foot 
of the glacis, could be of no use in case of investment, 
but rather an injury. And so it actually proved : for the 
enemy set fire to this very building, at a ti)ne, when the wind 
blowing fresh towards the fort, occasioned considerable in- 
convenience to the garrison. In the meanwhile little wa» 



45 

done to strengthen the fort, though there was every reason 
to expect the instant arrival of the enemy. 

The anxiety of Col. Willett, arising from a conviction of 
the incompetency of the engineer, in connection with the 
critical state of the fort, led him closely to inspect the pro- 
gress of the fortifications. The engineer had hegim to 
erect a salient angle to cover the gate, with two embrasures 
in it. He was also engaged in erecting pickets along the 
covert way. The pickets were placed about three feet from 
the parapet of the glacis. Two of them were framed to- 
gether with cross pieces, and formed a kind of port-hole, 
which were intended to be placed opposite the embrasures. 
But it soon appeared from the manner in which the pickets 
were ranged, that the port-holes, formed of the pickets with 
cross pieces, would come opposite the neck of the embrasures. 
By this means the salient angle would be rendered wholly 
useless. Col. Willett at an early stage of the work, noticed 
the en or, but thought it best to let the engineer take his 
own course, until the line of pickets should be carried to that 
part of the salient angle, where they would be opposite to 
the embrasures. When the engineer reached this part of 
his work, his ignorance would be without the least covering; 
and yet he never discovered his error, until the pickets were 
erected opposite the neck of the embrasures. Then for the 
first time he saw, that all his labour in erecting the salient 
angle had been in vain ; and that it could not be used with- 
out first knocking away the neck of the embrasures. The 
case being stated to Col. Gansevoort, he directed Col. Wil- 
lett to arrest the engineer, which was accordingly done. 
y He was permitted to repair to head quarters ; a letter at 
the same time being sent to Gen. Schuyler, assigning the 
reasons of the arrest. 

It was not until some time in the month of July that this 



46 



step was taken. Information had already been received, 
that the enemy were advancing towards the garrison. 
Scouts of Indians, belonging to the enemy, had been 
frequently discovered in the vicinity of the fort. The 
approach of the enemy, and the prowling scouts of Indians, 
had rendered it necessary to issue orders, forbidding the 
garrison to go any distance from the fort, or to fire any 
guns, which had previously been allowed, pigeons being 
very abundant in the neighbouring woods. 

Notwithstanding these orders, and the precautions that 
were taken, Captain Gregg, whose story is so familiar, and 
who belonged to Col. Willett's regiment, taking with him one 
of his corporals, proceeded about two miles from the fort; 
when, supposing his gun would not be heard, he commenced 
shooting pigeons ; but being soon discovered by a scout from 
the enemy's Indians, both himself and his corporal were shot 
and tomahauked. Not far from the place where they were 
shot, two men were fishing, whose attention was attracted 
by the significant motions of a dog, who, running towards 
them, began to bark ; he then ran back towards that part of 
the woods from whence he had issued, still continuing to 
bark, and looking back, as if entreating them to follow. 
The singular behaviour of this faithful and affectionate 
animal, induced the men to follow him, and by this means 
they were led to the spot, where Captain Gregg and the 
Corporal lay weltering in their gore. Alarmed by so un- 
expected and bloody a spectacle, they hurried to the fort, 
and, having told what they had seen, a party was imme- 
diately sent out to bring in the bodies of the unfortunate 
men. The corporal was dead, but signs of hfe were still 
seen in the captain. His case was, however, extremely 
critical ; as he had received a shot which entered his side, 
ran along near the middle of the back, passing near the 



47 

spinal bone, jii.st beyond which it went out. lie had also 
been struck with a tomahauk on the head, when he was 
scalped. Doctor Woodruff, the surgeon of the regiment, 
dressed his wounds ; and the unremitting attention which he 
paid him, after a few days, removed the most alarming 
symptoms, so that hopes began to be entertained, that the 
captain would yet survive the terrible disaster. In about 
three weeks he was pronounced out of danger ; and as the 
enemy were expected in the course of a fortnight, it was 
thought expedient that Captain Gregg, with the rest of the 
sick, and other ineffective persons, should be removed to 
Schenectady. The captain arrived safe at Schenectady, 
was restored to healtii, and remained in the service until 
the end of the war. He lived several years after the 
peace. 

Captain Gregg recollected every circumstance of the 
transaction, and related it afterwards with great composure. 
It appears, that upon receiving the shot, he fell, and, seeing 
the Indian running towards him, he lay perfectly still, with 
the intention of leading the Indian to think he was dead ; 
and when the Indian proceeded to scalp him, giving him at 
the same time a cut with his tomahauk on the upper part of 
his forehead, such was his fortitude through the whole of 
this trying scene, as to shew no signs of life. Shortly after the 
Indian left him, he looked around, and seeing the corporal 
lying at a short distance from him, he crawled up to him. 
He then took his watch out of his pocket to observe the hour 
of the day. Discovering after awhile that the corporal was 
dead, he laid his head on his body ; and continued in that 
position, until he was taken up and conveyed to the fort. 

The disaster of Captain Gregg, caused a greater degree 
of circumspection to be used in venturing at a distance from 
the fort, unguarded. Sunday, the 3rd of July, being a very 



48 

warm, clear day, as Colonel Willet-t lay resting in his room 
about noon, three guns, fired in quick succession, gave him 
warning that there were Indians near. He ran to the gate 
of the fort, and on reaching the parapet of the glacis, saw a 
sentinel running towards the lower edge of it, and at a short 
distance from him a girl, also running, holding in her hand 
a small basket. On their coming nearer, he saw blood 
running down the breast of the little girl, who, as he after- 
wards learned, with two other girls, had been picking black- 
berries, not two hundred yards from the foot of the glacis, 
when they were fired at by the Indians. Upon going to the 
spot. Colonel Willett found the other two girls killed and 
scalped. One of the girls that was killed, was the daughter 
of a man who had served many years in the British artillery. 
He had been stationed as one of the guard at this post for 
several years. As he was considerably advanced in life, and 
infirm, he had received a discharge, with a recommendation 
to Chelsea hospital. But, as he had been indulged with the 
privilege of cultivating a piece of ground, and allowed the 
use of a small house to live in, he preferred remaining where 
he was, to retmning to his native country, and enjoying the 
benefits to which his services entitled him. The girl who 
had made her escape, had been shot through the upper part 
of her shoulder : the wound proved to be slight, and she soon 
recovered. 

A great degree of interest now began to be felt throughout 
the garrison. Indians were constantly hovering around them ; 
and they soon became so numerous, that strong guards were 
sent out to protect the parties that left the fort. About the 
middle of July, one of these parties was attacked, several 
killed and wounded, and the officer who commanded taken 
prisoner. The enemy were instantly pursued, but without 
success. The condition of the fort rendered it improper to 



49 

send out strong scouting parties, as every moment of time 
was required to prepare for defence. 

Tlie engineer having been dismissed, greater diligence 
than ever was necessary, to put the fort in a proper state of 
defence. Accordingly, officers as well as men exerted them- 
selves with the utmost assiduity, and the work went on very 
rapidly. By the first day of August the wall around the 
whole of the fort was repaired ; the parapets were nearly 
raised ; embrasures made on three of the bastions ; horizontal 
pickets fixed around the walls, and perpendicular pickets 
around the covert way. The gate and the bridge were also 
made secure, though the time had been too short to make 
any material alteration in the salient angle, so as to derive 
any benefit from it. The garrison had just finished laying 
the horizontal pickets at night, as the enemy invested the 
fort the next day ; but at the time of the arrival of the enemy, 
none of the parapets had been completed. It was necessary, 
therefore, to finish these after the fort was regularly invested; 
and as the men engaged in work at them were unavoidably 
exposed, they became marks for the enemy's rifles, so that 
several of them were killed. The engineer had neglected 
to build a magazine, though he knew there was no secure 
place for the ammunition. The garrison, in order to remedy 
this difficulty, took the seven spare feet which were left 
of the pickets, in consequence of the mistake of the en- 
gineer as to their length, and having framed them, so as to 
form a square inclosure, the whole was placed within the 
body of one of the bastions, and being covered with earth, 
formed a safe deposit for the powder. 

On the last day of July, advice was received that a num- 
ber of batteaux loaded with ammunition and provisions, in- 
tended for the garrison, were on their way, under a guard 
of two hundred men. As the very safety of the fort de- 



50 

pended in a great measure upon their safe arrival, a detach- 
ment of one hundred men was sent out in order to assist 
them in case of need. Tliese boats arrived about 5 o'clock, 
p. M., on tlie second day of August; and the stores were 
nnmediately conveyed into tlie foil. At the instant the last 
loads arrived, the enemy appealed on the edge of the wood 
near where the boats lay; and the captain who commanded 
them, remaining behind after all the rest had left, was taken 
prisoner. 

The fort had never been supplied with a flag. The ne- 
cessity of having one, had, upon the arrival of the enemy, 
taxed the invention of the garrison a little ; and a decent one 
was soon contrived. The white stripes were cut out of am- 
munition shirts ; the blue out of the camlet cloak taken from 
the enemy at Peekskill ; while the red stripes were made of 
different pieces of stuff procured from one and another of 
the garrison. 

The two hundred men who guarded the batteaux, were 
commanded by Lieut. -Colonel Mellon of Col. Weston's 
regiment. This reinforcement increased the number of the 
garrison to about seven hundred and fifty men, including 
officers and artificers. Upon examination, it appeared that 
they had provisions sufficient to support the garrison six 
weeks; but the amnmnition was so scanty as to allow, for 
six weeks, only nine cannon to be fired per day. It was there- 
fore necessary to use the cannon as little as possible. Of 
musket cartridges they had a sufficient quantity. 

A flag came in from tlie enemy, the morning after their 
arrival. From this it w^as ascertained, tliat the troops in- 
vesting the fort, were commanded by the British Colonel 
St. Leger, accompanied by Sir John Johnson. The flag left 
with the garrison one of Burgoyne's pompous declarations. 

Very early on the morning of the 4th, a brisk fire from 



51 

rifles was commenced b)'^ the Indian^!, who, by concealing 
themselves behind the stumps of trees and other covers, 
considerably amioyetl the men who were employed in rais- 
ing the parapets. Several of them were wounded. Marks- 
men were immediately placed in different parts of the for- 
tifications to return the fire as opportunities might offer. 
The greater part of the 5th, was spent by both parties in 
nearly the same manner, with the addition of a few shells 
thrown by the enemy from five-inch royals, several of 
which came within tlie fort, and some into the barracks. 
On the evening of this day, soon after it was dark, the In- 
dians, who were at least one thousand in number, spread 
themselves througli the woods, completely encircling the 
fort, and commenced a terrible yelling, which was continued 
at intervals the greater part of the night. 

While the fort was thus invested, General Herkimer made 
an ineffectual attempt to relieve it. The general having 
collected with all possible despatch one thousand Tryon 
county militia, set out upon this expedition, having previ- 
ously sent an express to Col. Gansevoort informing him of 
his intention. This express was brought by two men, who 
reached the fort in safety about 10 o'clock, on the morning 
of tlie Gth of August, The letter which the general sent, 
was dated the night before. Upon the receipt of the letter, 
agreeably to the directions of Gen. Herkimer, cannon were 
fired as a signal to let him knov/ that the express he had 
sent had reached the fort in safely. Arrangements were 
immediately made to effect a diversion in favour of General 
Herkimer by a sally upon the enemy's camp. Accordingly, 
two hundred men were ordered on parade for this purpose, 
and placed by Colonel Gansevoort under the command of 
Col. Willett ; but a heavy shower of rain coming up at that 
moment delayed the sally near an horn'. 



52 

Gen. Herkimer, however, without waiting for the signal 
from the fort, which was to notify him that his express had 
been received, and that a sally would be made by the troops 
of the garrison to favour his approach, advanced prematurely 
upon the enemy, and without sufficiently reconnoitering the 
ground to guard against ambuscade and surprise. The 
general was a brave and resolute man : his troops were 
composed of Germans and Low Dutch ; and amongst them 
were the principal men of the county. They were en- 
thusiastic in the cause they were endeavouring to sup- 
port, impatient of delay, and under little subordination. 
They urged, and finally prevailed on the general to com- 
mence his march long before he could have expected the 
signal ; and of course before a diversion coidd be made in 
his^favour from the fort. The enemy who were informed 
of his approach, had marched and taken possession of a com- 
manding situation, about half way between their camp, and 
the place where he lay. The want of judgment in forming 
their line of march was another unfortunate circumstance 
for the general and his troops, in consequence of which, 
when they fell into the ambuscade laid for tbem, they were 
not in a condition to support each other. The militia in 
the rear (for the line of march was so scattered as to extend 
a mile in length) shewed but little courage : indeed many 
of them began early to make their escape. 

Suddenly and unexpectedly attacked by the enemy, the 
general with a number of brave men formed themselves 
in a circle, and defended themselves with great gallantry. 
There were a variety of instances in which much personal 
courage was shown : in some cases attacks were made with 
tomahauks by the militia, as well as by the Indians, and 
with equal effect. The courage of the greater part of the 
militia was such as clearly shewed that if they had been 



53 

sufficiently compact, and under sucli direction as to have 
been prepared to support each other, they woukl have been 
an overmatch for the enemy; but the loose manner in which 
they marched, and the want of precaution, produced such 
sudden confusion as could not be remedied. The action 
continued until the shower of rain commenced, when the 
enemy withdrew, and gave time for those brave men who 
remained on the field to collect their wounded ;* with whom 
they returned unmolested to the settlement. ^ 

As to the sally from the fort, it was completely successful. 
In addition to the two hundred men placed under Colonel 
Willett's command, mentioned before, fifty more were added 
to guard a light iron three-pounder, which increased his 
number to two hundred and fifty men. The cannon was 
mounted on a travelling carriage. With these troops, and 
this piece of mounted cannon, as soon as the rain ceased, 
Col. Willett lost not a moment in sallying forth from the 
gate of the fort. As the enemy's sentries were directly in 
sight of the fort, his movements were necessarily very rapid. 
The enemy's sentries were driven in, and their advanced 
guard attacked, before they had time to form their troops. 
Sir John Johnson, whose regiment was not over two hun- 
dred yards distant from the advance guard, and who him- 
self, it being very warm, was in his tent with his coat off, 
had not time to put it on before his camp was forced. So 
sudden and rapid was the attack, that the enemy had not 
time to form so as to make any opposition to the torrent that 



* Amons the wounded was the gallant general himself, who received a shot 
in one of his legs, about six inches below the knee, which fractured the bone 
very badly. Col. Willett saw the wound dressed about two weeks after he 
received it. The leg itself was afterwards amputated. Col. Willett called to 
see the general soon after the operation. He was sitting up in his bed with 
a pipe in his mouth, smoking, and talking, in fine spirits. Early the next 
morning, however, he learned that the general had died in the night, having 
bled to death. Such was the unfortunate end of this brave man. 



54 

poured in upon them. Flight, therefore, was their only re- 
source. Adjoining tlie camp of Sir John Johnson, was that 
of the Indians. This also was soon taken : so that a very few 
minutes put Col. Willett in possession of both these encamp- 
ments. Sir John with his troops took to the river ; and the 
Indians fled into the woods. The troops under Col. Willett 
had fair firhig at the enemy while they were crossing the 
river. 

The quantity of camp equipage, clothing, blankets, and 
stores, which Colonel Willett found in the two camps, ren- 
dered it necessary to hasten a messenger to the fort, and have 
the waggons sent, seven of which were stored in the fort, 
wuh horses. These waggons were each three times loaded, 
while Colonel Willett and his men remained in the camps of 
the enemy. Among other articles, they found five British 
flags ; the baggage of Sir John Johnson, with all his papers; 
the baggage of a number of other officers, with memoranda, 
journals, and orderly books, containing all the information 
which could be desired. 

Colonel Willet, on returning to the fort, found Colonel St. 
Leger stationed, with such force as he could collect, opposite 
the landing, on the other side of the river, not more than six- 
ty yards from the direction in which he was marching, with 
the intention of intercepting him. Colonel Willett's position, 
however, enabled him to form his troops so as to present him 
with a full fire in his fi-ont, while at the same time, he was 
enfiladed by the fire of a small field-piece ; and though 
Colonel St. Leger was sufficiently spirited in returning his 
fire, it was so wild, as to be altogether without effect. Colonel 
Willett returned in triumph to the fort, without having lost a 
single man. 

Upon his return, the five flags, taken from the enemy, 
were hoisted on the flag-staff; under the continental flag; 



55 

when all the troops in the garrison, having moiintecl the 
parapets, gave tlirec as hearty cheers as, perhaps, were ever 
given by the same number of men. 

Several prisoners were brought into the fort, among whom 
was a Mr. Singleton, a lieutenant of the light infantry com- 
pany of Sir Jolm Johnson's regiment. A few Indians and 
some troops were found dead in their camps, and, no doubt, 
several were killed in crossing the river. Upon the whole, 
the enterprize was successful, beyond Colonel Willett's most 
sanguine hopes. The loss of the enemy was, undoubtedly, 
great. Many of the articles taken from them were much 
wanted by tlie garrison. The happy result of this sally, 
appeared to inspire the garrison with an enthusiastic assur- 
ance of complete conquest over tlieir enemies.* 

Tlie success witli which the sortie from the fort was 
attended, added to the loss the enemy, and especially tlie 
Indians, had sustained in the action with General Herkimer, 
created considerable uneasiness in the enemy's camp. The 
afternoon of the next day, the beating of the chamade, and 
the appearance of a wliite flag, was followed with a request, 
that Colonel Butler, who commanded the Indians, with two 
other officers, might enter the fort, with a message to the 
commanding officer. Permission having been granted, they 
were conducted blindfolded into the fort, and received by 
Colonel Gansevoort in liis dining-room. The windows of the 
room were shut, and candles lighted ; a table also was spread, 

* The following account of this sally, is taken from the British Aniiiuil 
Register, for 1777. 

" On the day, and probably during the time of this engao;ement, (that is 
Herkimer's,) the garrison, liaving received intelligence of the approach of tlieir 
friends, endeavoured to make a diversion in their favour, by a vigorous and 
well-conducted sally, under the direction of Colonel Willett, their second in 
command. Willett conducted his business with ability and spirit. He did 
considerable mischief in the camp, brought off some trophies, no inconsiderable 
spoil, some of which, consisted in articles that were greatly wanted, a few 
prisoners, and returned with little or no loss." 

See Appendix, No. 5. 



56 

covered with crackers, cheese, and wine. Three chairs, placed 
at one end of the table, were occupied by Colonel Butler and 
the two other officers who had come with him : at the other 
end Colonel Gansevoort, Colonel Mellen, and Colonel Willett 
were seated. Seats were also placed around the table for as 
many officers as could be accommodated, while the rest of 
the room was nearly filled with the other officers of the gar- 
rison, indiscriminately ; it being desirable, that the officers in 
general should be witnesses to all that might take place. 
After passing round the wine, with a few common-place 
compliments, Major Ancrom, one of the messengers, with a 
very grave, stiff air, and a countenance full of importance, 
spoke, in nearly the following words : " I am directed by 
Colonel St. Leger, the officer who commands the army now 
investing the garrison, to inform the commandant, that the 
colonel has, with much difficulty, prevailed on the Indians 
to agree, that if the garrison, without further resistance, shall 
be delivered up, with the public stores belonging to it, to the 
investing army, the officers and soldiers shall have all their 
baggage and private property secured to them. And in order 
that the garrison may have a sufficient pledge to this effect, 
Colonel Butler accompanies me to assure them, that not a 
hair of the head of any one of them shall be hurt." (Here 
turning to Colonel Butler, he said, ' That, I think, was the ex- 
pression they made use of, was it not V — to which the colonel 
answered, ' Yes.') " I am likewise directed to remind the 
commandant, that the defeat of General Herkimer must 
deprive the garrison of all hopes of relief, especially as Gen- 
feral Burgoyne is now in Albany ; so that, sooner or later, 
the fort must fall into our hands. Colonel St. Leger, from 
an earnest desire to prevent further bloodshed, hopes these 
terms will not be refused ; as in this case, it will be out of his 
power to make them again. It was with great difficulty the 



57 

Indians consented to the present arrangement, as it will 
deprive them of that phmder which they always calculate 
upon, on similar occasions. Should, then, the present terms 
be rejected, it will be out of the power of the colonel to 
restrain the Indians, who are very numerous, and much 
exasperated, not only from pkmdering- the property, but 
destroying the lives of, probably, the greater part of the gar- 
rison. Indeed the Indians are so exceedingly provoked, and 
mortified by the losses they have sustained, in (he late actions, 
having had several of their favoiuite chiefs killed, that they 
threaten, — and the Colonel, if the present arrangements 
should not be entered into, will not be able to prevent them 
from executing their threats, — to march down the country, 
and destroy the settlement, with its inhabitants. In this case, 
not only men, but women and children, will experience the 
sad effects of their vengeance. These considerations, it is 
ardently hoped, will produce a proper effect, and induce the 
cormiiandant, by complying with the terms now offered, to 
save himself from future regret, when it will be too late." 

With the approbation of Colonel Gansevoort, Colonel 
Willett made the following reply. Looking the important 
major full in the face, he observed, " Do I understand yon. 
Sir 1 I think you say, that you come from a British colonel, 
who is commander of the army that invests this fort; and by 
your uniform, you appear to be an officer in the British ser- 
vice. You have made a long speech on the occasion of your 
visit, which, stript of all its superfluities, amounts to this, that 
you come from a British colonel, to the commandant of this 
garrison, to tell him, that if he does not deliver up the gar- 
rison into the hands of your Colonel, he will send his Indians 
to murder om- women and children. You Vv'ill please to 
reflect, sir, that their blood will be on your head, not on ours. 

Wc are doing our duty : this garrison is committed to our 

8 



58 

charge, and we will take care of it. After you get out of it, 
you may turn round and look at its outside, but never expect 
to come in again, unless you come a prisoner. I consider the 
message you have brought, a degrading one for a British 
officer to send, and by no means reputable for a British officer 
to carry. For my own part, I declare, before I would consent 
to deliver this garrison to such a murdering set as your 
army, by your own account, consists of, I would suffer my 
body to be filled with splinters, and set on fire, as you know 
has at times been practised, by such hordes of women and 
children killers, as belong to your army." 

The manner in which the message of Colonel St. Leger 
was received, together with the resolution of Colonel Gan- 
sevoort to come to no terms with the enemy, was re-echoed 
with applause by all the officers of the garrison who were 
present. Several of them pertinently remarked, that in their 
opinion, half the pains would not have been taken to induce 
them to surrender, if the enemy had not cause to fear that 
they should fail in their attempt. 

Colonel St. Leger's deputation, seeing no likelihood of 
their terms being acceded to, asked permission for the sur- 
geon, who accompanied their flag, to visit such of their 
wounded prisoners as had been taken in the sortie. This 
was granted ; and while the British surgeon, in company 
with Mr. Woodruflf, the surgeon of the garrison, was visit- 
ing the wounded, Major Ancrom proposed a cessation of 
arms for three days. As the garrison had more reason to 
fear the want of ammunition than provisions, this proposi- 
tion was agreed to : soon after which the flag returned to 
their camp, and the troops of the garrison enjoyed a brief 
interval of tranquillity and ease. 

The relief of the fort being still an object of the utmost 
importance, and no doubt remaining on the minds of any, but 



59 

that General Herkimer had been defeated, it was thought 
advisable to make another effort for the purpose ; and the 
militia of Tryon coimty, having formerly expressed a par- 
ticular attachment to Col. Willett, it was the general opin- 
ion that if he could shew himself among them, it might 
have the effect of inspiriting them with fresh resolution, and 
leading them a second time to exert themselves to raise the 
siege. Influenced by these considerations Col. Willett agreed 
to make the hazardous attempt to reach the settlements 
down the river. 

Accordingly, about 10 o'clock on the night of the 10th of 
August, Col. Willett left the fort, accompanied by Major 
Stockwell, whom he selected for this purpose, as he was a 
good hunter, and was well acquainted with the Indian 
method of travelling in the wilderness. They passed pri- 
vately through the sally port of the fort, and proceeding 
silently along the marsh, they reached the river, which they 
crossed by crawling over a log unperceived by the enemy's 
sentinels, who were not many yards from them. Having 
thus happily succeeded in crossing the river without being 
discovered, they advanced cautiously into a swampy wood, 
where they soon found themselves so enveloped in darkness 
as to be unable to keep a straight course. While in a state of 
uncertainty as to the safest step for them to take, they were 
alarmed by the barking of a dog, at no great distance from 
them. Knowing that the Indians, after their camp had 
been broken up on the other side of the river, had removed 
it to this side, they thought it most advisable to remain 
where they were, until they should have light sufficient to 
direct their course. Placing themselves therefore against a 
large tree, they stood perfectly cjuiet several hours. At length 
perceiving the morning star, they again set out, but instead 
of proceeding in a direct line to reach the settlement, they 



60 

took nearly a northerly direction, which after a few miles 
brought them arain to the river. With the intention of 
concealing their route, in case their tracks should be dis- 
covered, they stepped in and out of tlie river several times, 
crossing occasionally to the opposite side, until reaching a 
spot where they could completely conceal their track by 
stepping on stones, they left the river, took a north course 
for a few hours, and then travelled east until night, without 
making a single stop. As it was necessary for them to be 
encumbered as little as possible, they had left the fort with 
no other weapon but a spear for each, eight feet in length, 
which was intended to serve as a staff as well as a weapon 
of defence. They had taken no baggage or blanket ; and 
all the provision they had with them consisted of a few 
crackers and cheese, wliich they had put in their pockets, 
together with a quart canteen of spirits. Having halted for 
the night, they refreshed themselves with such provision as 
they had : after which, their situation being too perilous to 
think of kindling a fire, they lay down to sleep wrapped in 
each other's arms. Though it was then the height of sum- 
mer, yet the night was so cold, as, together with hard trav- 
elling the day before, and sleeping on the ground without 
any covering, made them feel very stiff when they arose 
the next morning. Colonel Willett had so severe a rheu- 
matic attack in one of his knees, as to cause a limp in his 
walk for several hours. Setting out once more, they directed 
their course farther to the south, and about 9 o'clock came 
to an opening in the woods, occasioned by a windfall. In 
this opening, among the fallen trees, they found a forest 
of raspberries and blackberries, quite ripe, which afforded 
them a most delicious and refreshing repast. Though the 
day was very warm, yet, deriving new vigour from their ban- 
quet of berries, they proceeded expeditiously towards the 



61 

settlement, where they arrived at three o'clock, having trav- 
elled in this time about fifty miles.* On arriving at Fort 
Dayton, a small stockade fort at the German Flats, they 
received a hearty welcome from Colonel Weston, who was 
stationed there with his regiment. From Colonel Weston, 
Col. Willett obtained the agreeable intelhgence that Gen. 
Learnard had been ordered by General Schuyler to march 
with his brigade of Massachusetts troops (which had been 
stationed on Van Schaick's Island, about ten miles above 
Albany,) to the relief of the fort. 

Having rested that night at Fort Dayton, Col. Willett, still 
accompanied by Major Stockwell, set out on horseback early 
next morning to meet these troops, which they had the satis- 
faction of doing the very same night. Having been in- 
formed by General Learnard, that the troops intended for 
the relief of the fort, were to be commanded by General 
Arnold, who was at Albany, Colonel Willett proceeded next 
day to that place. Here he learned from General Arnold, 
that the first New York regiment was also on its march to 
join Learnard's brigade. The day following. Colonel Willett 
accompanied General Arnold to join the troops, and in two 
days arrived at Fort Dayton, where the whole force ixitended 
for the relief of the fort was assembled. 

During Colonel Willett's absence from Fort Dayton, Lieu- 
tenant Walter Butler, with six or eight soldiers, and eight 
or ten Indians, had been taken prisoners. They had been 
surprised at the house of a Mr. Shoemaker, about two miles 



* The British Annual Register for 1777, thus speaks of this enterprize. 

"Colonel Willett afterwards (after the sally) undertook, in company with 
another officer, a much more perilous expedition. They passed by night 
through the besiegers' works, and in contempt of the danger and cruelty of 
the savages, made their way for fifty miles through pathless woods and un- 
explored morasses, in order to raise the country and bring relief to the fort. 
Such an action demands the praise even of an enemy." 



62 

from Fort Dayton, the evening pievioiis to General Arnold's 
and Col. Willett's arrival al tiiat place. Mr. Shoemaker 
was one of the King of England's justices of the peace ; 
and being known by Mr. Butler to be disaffected to the 
congressional government, he had prevailed on him to as- 
semble as many of the timid and disaffected inhabitants at 
his house as he could collect, with the intention of endeav- 
ouring to persuade them to join the army of Colonel St. 
Leger. Colonel Weston, having received information of 
what was going on, detached a party of soldiers, with orders 
to surround the house, and take the Avhole of them prisoners. 
This was promptly done ; Mr. Butler being at the time in 
the midst of his harangue. 

General Arnold having ordered a court martial, of which 
he appointed Colonel Willett judge advocate, in order to try 
Mr. Butler, as a spy from the enemy, the court found him 
guilty, and sentenced him to die ; which sentence was 
approved of by General Arnold, and ordered to be put in 
execution the succeeding morning : but a number of officers 
belonging to the first New York regiment, petitioning to 
have him respited, the general granted their petition, and 
Butler was sent to Albany. He escaped from this place the 
winter following, and became afterwards a severe scourge to 
the inhal)itants of these frontiers. 

Shortly after this, the news of the approach of General 
Arnold, to relieve the fort, having reached the enemy, the 
Indians being already extremely disaffected, in conseqence 
of the ill success of the siege, and Colonel St. Leger, finding 
that the mulish obstinacy, as he termed it, in a listter written 
to General Burgoyne, of the garrison, could not readily be 
overcome, on the 22nd of August the siege was suddenly 
abandoned, after it had been carried on twenty days. 

Throughout the whole of the siege. Colonel St. Leger, 



63 

certainly, made every effort in his power to render it suc- 
cessful. Having- sent after Colonel Willett's departure, to 
Colonel Gansevoort, a written summons to surrender, which 
he found as unavailing as his message by Major Ancrom, 
he commenced approaching by sap, and had formed two 
parallels, the second of which brought him near the edge 
of the glacis, but the fire oi the'nmsketry from the covert way, 
rendered his further progress very difficult ; besides, his ord- 
nance was not sufficiently heavy to make any impression 
from the battery which he had erected. The only way 
in which he could annoy tlie garrison, was with his shells, 
and this was so trifling, as to afTord liim but a poor prospect 
of success. It appears, that he made large calculations 
upon intimidating the garrison with threats ; and, perhaps, 
his expectations were the more sanguine,, as Ticonderoga 
had been but a little time before abandoned, upon the ap- 
proach of General Burgoyne. 

The unexpected and hasty retreat of Colonel St. Leger, 
and his host of Indiaus, accompanied by Sir John Johnson, 
whose influence among the settlers along the Mohawk river, 
it was supposed, would procure considerable reinforcements, 
defeated all the calculations that had been made in the 
event of the success of St. Leger, which was hardly doubted. 
Great indeed was the disappointment and mortification, 
when, instead of Colonel St. Leger taking the fort, and, by 
this means, obtaining possession of the Mohawk country, as 
well as effecting a junction with General Burgoyne, he was 
obliged to retreat, wholly baffled in all his designs.* 

* " Nothing," says the British Annual Register, " could have been more 
untoward in the present situation of affairs, than the unfortunate issue of 
this expedition. The Americans represented this and the affair at Bennington, 
as great and glorious victories. Nothing could exceed their exultation and 
confidence. Gansevoort and Willctt, with General Starke and Colonel Warner, 
who had commanded at Bennington, were ranked among those who were 
considered as the saviours of their country." 



64 

After the retreat of the enemy, Colonel Willett passed 
several months in comparative inactivity. Colonel Ganse- 
voort, having gone to Albany, the command of the fort de- 
volved on him. He improved tliis interval, in completing 
the works, and disciplining the troops. Toward the last of 
September, Colonel Gansevoort, having returned to the fort, 
Colonel Willett set out to visit his family at Fishkill, where 
he arrived, the very day on which Fort Montgomery was 
taken. During this visit he was not inactive, but assisted in 
the defence of that part of the country against the enemy, 
who, having obtained the entire possession of the Hudson 
river, threatened the inhabitants along its banks, at every 
point. After this, he visited the grand army, under the im- 
mediate command of General Washington, which he found 
encamped at White Marsh, about twelve miles from Phila- 
delphia. It was late in January before he returned to the 
fort, where he continued until the following June 



CHAPTER VI. 



.(sjoe 



BATTLE OF MONMOUTH. 



Wearied with the inactive Hfe he led, and seeing no 
prospect of more brilliant service in that remote section at 
that period, Colonel Willett once more, with the approbation 
of Colonel Gansevoort, set out to visit the commander-in- 
chief, with the view of endeavouring- to have the regiment 
relieved, and of joining the main army ; objects which he 
was extremely desirous of effecting. At Peekskill he found 
Gen. Gates; and happened to be at his quarters on the night 
of the 21st of June, when an express from Gen. Washington 
brought advice of the evacuation of Philadelphia by the 
enemy. Gen. Gates, having suggested his intention of 
sending a confidential messenger to Gen. Washington, with 
a statement of the force and magazines urider his command, 
which, as the army under Washington would probably move 
that way, it was necessary he should be w^ell acquainted 
with. Colonel Willett was pleased with the opportunity of 
offering his services on that occasion. Having accordingly 
been furnished with a fresh horse, which the quarter-master 
was ordered to procure for the purpose, he crossed the river 
the next morning, and arrived at head-quarters the evening 
of the same day. Having finished his business with the 
commander-in-chief, he obtained from him permission to 

9 



66 

remain with the army. On Wednesday the 23d of June, 
being the morning after his arrival, lie was informed that a 
detachment of light troops under the command of General 
Scott of Virginia, was ordered to march towards the enemy, 
with the intention of harassing them on their retreat. Hav- 
ing obtained an introduction to General Scott, Colonel 
Willett offered himself as a volunteer aid, and his offer being 
cordially accepted, he had the satisfaction of remaining 
with him until after the battle of Monmouth, which took 
place the Sunday following. 

General Scott's detachment of light troops marched the 
first day to within a few miles of the enemy's rear : in the 
evening of the same day, it was joined by the Jersey brigade. 
Early the next morning they got upon the enemy's track, 
which they followed; but as their columns were kept close, 
and their line of march was compact, no opportunity of an 
advantageous attack presented itself. A few prisoners and 
deserters were all that fell into their hands. As the weather 
was very warm, and the country through which they passed 
barren and sandy, the troops suffered for want of water : 
the more so as the enemy had taken care to fill up the wells. 
In the evening General Scott was re-inforced with upwards 
of one thousand men under General Wayne ; and the com- 
mand of the whole detachment was put under the Marquis 
De La Fayette. 

Early on the morning of the 27th, an attempt w^as made 
to impede the march of the enemy by an attack upon their 
rear ; but it was ineffectual : and they continued their route 
to Monmouth Court-House. In the course of the day the 
detachment was increased to five thousand ; and the com- 
mand conferred on General Lee. Early on Sunday morn- 
ing, being the 28th of June, a smart fire was commenced, 
just as the enemy began to march. This attack became so 



67 

serious that the enemy found it necessary to halt their line, 
and turn the whole of tlieir force upon us. The light in- 
fantry to which Colonel Willctt was attached were formed 
on the edge of the wood, wlien tlie Marquis De La Fayette 
galloping up to them, told them that the British grenadiers 
were advancing to gain their right ; and ordered them to 
march with a quick step to oppose them. This order was 
obeyed wath alacrity : but as the enemy had halted beyond 
a marshy piece of gound ; and by their last movement the 
light infantry had become separated from the rest of the 
troops, General Scott took an advantageous position, which 
he had just gained, when he was ordered to retire. General 
Scott conceiving that the order would be countermanded, if 
General Lee were once made acquainted with the excellence 
of his position, sent Colonel Willett to give him a particular 
account of its advantages in case the enemy should advance 
to attack them. Before Colonel Willett could find the gen- 
eral, he observed that all the troops were retiring : when 
near the Court-House, he fell in with General Wayne, and 
at the same time General Scott rode up and informed him 
that be had received a second order, and that the troops had 
of course left their position, and were retiring. Both these 
gentlemen expressed great mortification at the measures 
adopted ; and pointed out several important advantages 
which might be gained by waiting the attack of the enemy, 
who were then advancing pretty rapidly towards them. 

While Colonel Willett, with Generals Scott and Wayne, 
were conversing together, they discovered General Lee, for 
the first time, since the troops commenced retreating, on a 
pretty conspicuous piece of ground, and, anxious to learn 
the cause of the retreat, rode fast towards him. It appears, 
that some person had already suggested to the general some 
doubts as to the propriety of the movements the troops were 



68 

making ; for just as Colonel Willett got within reach of hear- 
mg, the first words that struck his ears, from General Lee, 
were, " It does not signify, — the enemy have too much 
cavalry for us." 

The enemy, perceiving that a retreat had commenced, 
moved forward more rapidly. The fire from their artillery 
had become brisk. 

The enemy had Ijrought their cavalry in front : and the 
only clever thing Colonel Willett witnessed, on the part of 
General Lee, was, that on observing the cavalry advancing, 
he ordered some troops to a good position, to check them ; 
when, calling his dog, he left the spot where he was, and 
joined the troops he had stationed to oppose the enemy's 
cavalry. These, advancing on a canter, received so severe 
a fire, as completely broke and dispersed them. Here a 
horse was to be seen galloping away without its rider, and 
there a horseman rising from the dust. 

A brisk fire of musketry, as well as artillery, had now 
commenced in different parts of the line. The weather was 
extremely warm. Some of the troops, especially such as had 
charge of field-pieces, were obliged to break their columns, 
in order to avoid a marsh, across which they could not carry 
the artillery. This was the case witli some of General Scott's 
detachment of light infantry, who had charge of tvv^o field- 
pieces. This being observed by the enemy, they detached 
a regiment of Highlanders, to attack General Scott's de- 
tachment. The Highlanders advanced briskly across an 
orchard to the attack, but were received by a well-directed 
fire, which killed upwards of thirty of them in a few minutes. 

By this time General Washington had arrived on the field ; 
and put a stop to the retrograde movement : such a line was 
formed as effectually checked the advance of the enemy. 
Two formidable lines were formed, in front of each other. 



69 

to a considerable extent. The fire of artillery from both 
lines was severe, and not without execution. It was doubt- 
ful, on which side the artillery was best served ; but, in every 
instance, where our musketry was opposed to the enemy's, 
the advantage was, evidently, on our side. 

General Washington, who never to Colonel Willett ap- 
peared so great as he did on that day,* (though to him, he 
always appeared greater than any body else,) was mounted 
on a fine large sorrel horse : he had a spy-glass in his hand, 
and from a commanding situation, within the hne of the 
enemy's fire, he seemed to observe and know everything. 
Firmness, composure, and dignity sat on his brow. His 
presence inspired universal ardour along the line ; and, in 
the poetical description of Mr. Addison, 

"He taught the doubtful battle where to rage." 

General Washington's situation within the line of fire, 
with a number of officers about him, appeared to attract the 
attention of the enemy, so as to induce them to direct their 
fire on that more than any other part of the line. Colonel 
Willett happened to be near him, when this was evidently 
the case, and directed one of his aides to ride round among 
the officers and request them to withdraw, as they offered 
a mark for the enemy's fire, Upon this intimation a number 
of them withdrew ; and Colonel Willett then retired to that 



*The appearance of General Washington, says Colonel Willett, was such, 
as to excite admiration and respect. I recollect feeling these sentiments the 
first time I ever saw him, which was the year after the memorable defeat of 
General Braddock. He was then only twenty-three years of age. His manly, 
sedate countenance, and deportment, together with the fineness of his person, 
forcibly attracted attention and respect, even in tliose his youthful days. Nine- 
teen years had elapsed, from that period to the time of my seeing him again, 
which was a few days after he was appointed to command the American army. 
His greatness appeared to have increased with his years. His noble counte- 
nance displayed the greatness of his mind ; and his whole demeanour was 
calculated to command veneration. I have seen him in a variety of situations, 
and none in which he did not appear great: but never did I see lum when he 
exhibited such greatness as on this day. 



70 

part of the line where the hght infantry was formed. He 
had been there but a few niinutes, when two g-entlemen 
riding slowly along, he heard one of them exclaim, " Poor 
Lee." As General Lee was near General Washington at 
the time Colonel Willett left the spot where he was, on 
hearing the exclamation of, " Poor Lee," he concluded he 
was killed ; and, turning to the person who made the ex- 
clamation, enquired if Lee v/as shot ; to which he replied, 
" No : but he is a great deal worse off, — for the general has 
given him a most severe reprimand, and ordered him to 
English Town, (which was four miles in the rear,) with 
orders to collect such scattered troops as he might find, and 
assemble them at that place." 

Li the meanwhile, by a well-timed order. General Green 
and Lord Stirling took possession of commanding ground, 
from whence a heavy fire so enfiladed the enemy's line, as to 
compel them to retreat. The position they left was instantly 
occupied by tlie American troops ; and so hot a fire poured 
in upon the enemy, as compelled them to retreat. The 
late hour of the day necessarily prevented any further oper- 
ations : except placing such part of the army as had expe- 
rienced the least fatigue, in such positions, as would enable 
them to commence another attack early the next morning. 
But this was prevented, by the retreat of the enemy in the 
night, leaving their wounded behind them. * They had taken 
the road towards Sandy Hook ; and when it was discovered 
they had retreated, were so far ahead, as not to render it 
advisable to pursue them with the army. Some light troops 
were ordered to follow at a distance, with a view of picking 
up any deserters, or stragglers, from the enemy, while the 



* As General Washington had ordered Colonel Morgan, with his rifle corps, 
•srhich was reinforced by some other troops, by a circuitous march to attack 
the enemy's baggage, the victory wouki have been much more complete, if the 
attack had not been prevented by th.e retrograde movement of General Lee. 



71 

main army filed o(T towards Brunswick : but, learning that 
the enemy had landed at New York, they marched towards 
the Hudson, which they crossed at Stony Point. 

The remainder of the canijiaign^ of the year '73, after the 
battle of Monmouth, Colonel Willett spent with the main 
army, which encamped in West Chester county. 

The campaign of '79 he spent with General Sullivan, on 
the western expedition against the hostile Indians, destroy- 
ing their crops and towns. 

In the hard winter of '79, '80, while the main army was 
in winter quarters, four miles from Morris Town, in the 
woods. Colonel Willett received orders to cross over to Stolen 
Island, to attack Colonel Van Bushkirk, With five bun- 
ded men, and one field-piece, he crossed at night, npon the 
ice ; and waited until day-light to commence the attack. 
Day having broke, he rode forward to reconnoitre. He 
soon found that the house, occupied by Van Bushkirk, was 
closed, windows and doors being shut. Seeing a woman 
standing in the door of a house opposite, he enquired of her 
what had become of Bushkirk. She said, he was in the 
house. It appears, however, that having obtained informa- 
tion of the intended attack, he had departed, with such 
precipitancy, as to leave behind all his stores. Colonel Willett 
loaded seventeen waggons Avith stores, consisting of sugar, 
butter, gin, &c., which came very seasonably for the army. 

The same winter he made an expedition to Powle's Hook, 
and, having taken a redoubt, drove away all the English 
cattle. 

In the year '80, Colonel Willett commanded the 5th New 
York regiment, which was connected with' the grand army. 
Nothing material, however, transpired this year, so far as he 
was concerned. 



CHAPTER VIL 






MOHAWK CAMPAIGNS. 



Towards the close of the year '80, tlie reform took place 
which reduced the five New York regiments to two. Upon 
this change, Col. Willett was ordered to take command of 
all the levies, militia, and state troops, that might be raised 
to protect the north-west frontiers of the State of New York, 
in which command he continued to the end of the war. 

It was at the earnest solicitation of Governor Clinton, 
that he was induced to undertake the defence of this im- 
portant frontier. He quitted the main army with extreme 
reluctance, unwilling to deprive himself of the opportunity 
of serving his country in that more public scene of action. 
But yielding to the repeated requests of governor Chnton, 
who in his letter to him on this subject, expressed his belief, 
that he could be of essential service to the State in that ex- 
posed section of it ; the more so, to use the governor's own 
language, "as he was informed that the inhabitants of Tryon 
county placed the highest confidence in his zeal and mili- 
tary abilities ;" he at last consented to the governor's pro- 
position. Having once engaged in this arduous service, 
sympathizing in the sufferings of the inhabitants of that 
frontier, anxious to inflict upon the Indians, and especially 
upon the tories, (whom Governor Clinton in one of his let- 



73 

ters to him, styles " cruel monsters worse than savages,") 
as being the ciiief instigators, and tlie most barbarous actors 
in the crueUies and devastations tliat were commit led alonsf 
this extended frontier, lie entered upon the arduous (kities 
of the campaign with diligence and alacrity. 

The following letters of Col. Willett to General Wash- 
ington and Governor Clinton, will give an account of the 
condition of the county, both before and at the time of his 
arrival there : the mode of defence against the savages that 
was adopted by the inhabitants ; and the measures he him- 
self took for their security. 

German Flatts, Fort Herkimer, July 6th, 1781. 

Sir, — I am in this county* by order of Governor Clinton. 
Among other particulars in the instructions I have received 
from him, are the following. "For a variety of reasons, 
I conceive it will conduce most to the good of the ser- 
Tice that you shovdd take post yourself in Tryon county. 
In the distribution of the troops, you are to have regard to 
the aid to be derived from the continental troops, and mili- 
tia : to whom I will give such orders as will enable you to 
avail yourself of their aid." 

In consequence of these orders, and in expectation of the 
legislatures making provision to execute a plan, of which 
I had given a sketch to Governor Clinton, I am at present 
on these frontiers. Impelled by the situation of things in 
these parts, I beg leave to lay before your Excellency a short 
description of this country, with its present condition. 

It is a country of the most luxuriant soil. Not only the 
lands along the river are exceedingly rich, but the back 



* Tryon county, embracing at that time all that part of the State of New 
York, west of the county of Albany. 

10 



74 

lands are also of the first quality. This tract of country 
exceeds any I passed through in our march upon the western 
expedition under General Sullivan. Mostof the settlements lie 
along, or not far back from the Mohawk river. At the com- 
mencement of the present war, both sides of the river, from 
Schenectady to Germantown, which is seventy miles, the 
settlements were considerably thick; and every thing had the 
appearance of ease and plenty. There were besides several 
valuable farms, extending fifteen miles higher up the river 
than Germantown. Germantown, however, is the last 
place where any number of families had fixed themselves 
together. At the beginning of the war the militia of the 
county did not amount to less than two thousand five 
hundred men. In such a country, blessed with so fine a soil, 
lying along a delightful river, which affords an easy trans- 
portation of the produce to a valuable market, with a cli- 
mate exceeded by none, one would have expected a conse- 
quent increase of population. But this was retarded by 
means which you are undoubtedly acquainted with. The 
obstructions to its future growth and prosperity, will, I hope, 
in a little time be removed ; and this part of the world, 
which is, perhaps, one of the first places on this continent, 
be surpassed by none. Flourish it must. Nothing but the 
hand of tyranny can prevent it much longer from becoming 
the garden of America. 

The place from which I now write, is, at present, the ad- 
vance settlement up the river, and lies sixty-three miles from 
Schenectady. This strip, sixty miles in length, is liable to 
Indian incursions, on both sides of the river. This the in- 
habitants have frequently experienced ; and so severe has 
been their experience, that, out of two thousand five hun- 
dred upon the militia rolls, at the commencement of the war. 



75 

at present, the whole number of classible* inhabitants does 
not amount to one thousand two hundred. Of classible 
inhabitants, (that is, of those who were liable to be assessed 
to pay taxes, in order to raise men for the public service,) 
there being not twelve hundred, the number liable to be 
called upon to do military duty, will hardly exceed eight 
hundred ; so that there is a reduction in the county of at 
least two thirds, since tlie commencement of the war. 

To account for this large reduction, I do not think I am 
wild ill my calculations, when I say, that one tliird of them 
have oeen killed, or carried captive by tlie enemy ; one third 
have removed into the interior parts of the country ; and one 
third deserted to the enemy. The present distressed situation 
of the inhabitants, is such, as to demand sympathy, from the 
most unfeeling heart. Each neighbourhood has erected for 
itself a fortification. Within these foits, the inhabitants have 
in general taken up their residence. Each fort contains from 
ten, to upwards of fifty families. There are twenty-four of 
these fortifications within the county. Pitiable, indeed, is 
the case of a people, thus situated. But, wretched as their 
situation is, such is the state of the country ; and in such a 
condition are the people who inhabit it. But, notwith- 
standing their deplorable situation, should they be fortunate 
enough to preserve the grain they at present have in the 
ground, they will have an immense quantity more than 
will be sufficient for their own consumption. 

To protect this country, as much as possible, is our present 
business ; and this is the point, to which I now wish to call 
your Excellency's attention. By withdrawing the regular 



* By a law of the State of New York, every male person, not being a slavey 
who was above sixteen years of age, was to be numbered into classes. In- 
dividuals of each class, were, respectively, to pay as much towards raising 
men for the public service, as they were assessed, by persons appointed for 
that service. 



76 

troops, the county is, undou1)tedly, much weakened. At 
this time, I have not, in the whole county, more than two 
hundred and fifty men, exchisive of tlie mihtia. Some 
reinforcements. Governor Chnton writes me word, are com- 
ing from the eastward. Part of these, we may liope, will 
come this way ; and, by others being sent to the northward, 
I flatter myself, I shall be able to withdraw those levies, 
which have been placed under my command, which are, at 
present, that way. 

I heartily wish to have as much force as possible, to assist 
in the preservation of a people, whose sufferings have, 
already, been so exceeding great. But, be the force larger 
or smaller, I can only promise to do everything in my power, 
for the relief of a people, of whom I had some knowledge in 
their more prosperous days ; and am now acquainted with in 
the time of their deep distress : a people, whose case I most 
sincerely commiserate. At the same time, I think it my 
duty to inform your Excellency, that, after withdrawii^g the 
two regular regiments from these parts, I expect to have the 
command of all the troops that may be ordered into this 
county for its common defence. This is what Governor 
Clinton told me would be the case. Should the legislature 
make such further provision, for the defence of the county, as 
1 have requested, notwithstanding its present deplorable situ- 
ation, I shall hope to have the state of things much more 
respectable than hitherto it has been. Nor shall I exceed 
my hopes, if, in the course of less than twelve months, I shall 
be able to convince the enemy, that they are not without 
their vulnerable quarters, in these parts. 

Since I have been in this part of the country, I have been 
endeavouring to put matters in some kind of regulation. 
With the approbation of the governor I have fixed my 
quarters at Canajoharie, on account of its central position. 



77 

And my intention is to manage business so as to have an 
opportunity of acquainting myself as well as possible with 
every officer and soldier 1 may have in charge. In order 
the better to do this:, I propose, as far as I can make it 
any way convenient, to guard the different posts by detach- 
ments, to be relieved as the nature of the case will adnut. 
And as tha relieved troops will always return to Fort Rens- 
selaer, where my quarters will be, I shall have an opportunity 
of seeing them all in turn. Having troops constantly march- 
ing backwards and forwards through tlie country, and fre- 
quently changing their route, will answer several purposes, 
such as will easily be perceived by you, sir, without my men- 
tioning them. This is not the only way by which I expect 
to become particularly acquainted with the troops and their 
situation. I intend occasionally to visit every part of the 
country, as well to rectify such mistakes as are common 
among the kind of troops I have at present in charge, as to 
enable me to observe the condition of the militia, upon whose 
aid I shall be under the necessity of placing considerable 
reliance. 

In order to shew that I have some reason to place de- 
pendence upon the militia, I shall first mention a transnc- 
lion that took place a few niglits ago at Canajoharie. An 
account was sent me at one o'clock in the morning, that 
about fifty Indians and toiies were in the neighbourhood of' 
a place six miles off. Having with me at the fort no more 
regular troops than were sufiicient to guard it, I sent for a 
captain of the militia ; and in less than an hour he was 
out with seventy men in search of the enemy. In short, 
they are a people, who, having experienced no inconsidera- 
ble portion of British barbarism, are become keen for revenge, 
and appear properly determined. 

It is with regret I trespass upon your time in this man- 



78 

ner: but I am desirous of giving you as good a sketch as I 
can of the situation of this country. It is easy for you to 
perceive that the strength we now have this way is inade- 
quate to the fortress •intended to be erected at this place by 
Major Viha...., the engineer, who was ordered here for the 
purpose of fortifying tliis place. Nor did I see the great 
necessity of such works being erected here. I humbly con- 
ceive that some small improvements to the works we already 
have, will answer our present purpose. And I am pretty 
clear it will be all that we shall be able to accomplish. 

If it should meet with your approbation, I should be glad 
to make such a disposition of the cannon and other ord- 
nance stores, as may appear most secure, and best calcu- 
lated to protect the country. For to me it is clear, that the 
way to protect these parts is, in case the enemy should again 
appear this way with any thing of force, to collect all the 
strength we can get to a point, and endeavour to beat them 
in the field, and not attempt to defend any one particular 
spot : for such is the exposed state of the country, that the 
enemy can make incursions in almost any quarter. Beside 
this, it is not their policy or custom to halt to invest any par- 
ticular place. It is therefore my opinion, that by joining 
our whole force together, and not by defending any one post, 
we are to endeavour to protect these frontiers : whilst these 
small stockade forts, and block houses, which the inhabitants 
themselves have built, are in general sufficient to cover 
them against such parties of Indians and tories as usually 
make this way. 

I should count myself happy in having your sentiments 
upon this subject. At present I have at this place about 
one hundred men : nor is it possible without calling on the 
inhabitants below, to afford this place more men until I re- 
<:eive some reinforcements. I need not say to you, sir, that 



79 

nothing can be clone towards erecting the new fort, witli the 
men I now have. I shall, therefore, only endeavour to repair 
the works already at this place, until I shall receive further 
orders 

I have the honour to be with the greatest sincerity 
your Excellency's most obedient 

and humble servant, 

Marinus Willett. 
To His Excellency, Gen. Washington, 



German Flails, July btn, 1781. 

Sir, — At present I am at this place, with one hundred 
and twenty of the levies, including officers ; and captain 
Moody's company of artillerj^ which is but twenty strong. 
The total of all the levies in this county beside is ninety- 
six. A very insufficient number indeed to perform such 
business as is expected from us. I am crowded with ap- 
plications for guards, and have nothing to guard with. I 
will, however, do my best, and have no doubt, you will pay 
as much attention to our situation as you can. 

That part of my regiment of levies not with me at this 
place, is stationed as follows. At Schoharie I have placed 
a little over twenty men : Kaatskill about the same number, 
unless they have received recruits from Dutchess County, 
where I ordered them to send officers for that purpose. Cap- 
tain White has his company still at Ballstown, except a few 
left with the commissioners of Albany, which I have or- 
dered to join him. This whole company consists of about 
thirty men. Captain Whelp's company is ordered this way 
from Saratoga, where the companies of Captains Gray and 
Dunham still remain. I shall endeavovu- to make some 
alterations, but am at a loss, with the very few men we have. 



80 

to know how. I shall be glad to have your sentiments on 
this matter as soon as possible. I confess myself not a httle 
disappointed in having such a trifling force for such exten- 
sive business as I have upon my hands ; and also that no- 
thing is done to enable me to avail myself of the aid of the 
militia. The prospect of a suffering country hurts me. 
Upon my own account I am not uneasy. Every thing I 
can do shall be done ; and more cannot be looked for. If 
it is, a reflection that I have done my duty, must fix my 
own tranquillity. 

I am your Excellency's most obedient 

and very humble servant, 

Marinus Willett. 
To His Excellency, Gov. Clinton. 

In the preceding campaign of 1780, the defence of the 
Mohawk country had been committed to Colonels Malcomb, 
Dubois and Brown, aided by three regiments of levies. 
During that year the enemy made an incursion in that 
quarter ; and marching deliberately through the country, 
laid it waste on both sides of the river. The only opposition 
they met with in this cruel incursion, was from Col, Brown, 
who was himself slain. This disastrous campaign, in con- 
nection with other losses and attacks, had so completely 
disheartened the inhabitants tbat few remained upon their 
farms. 

In the beginning of July, '81, Col. Willett arrived at Fort 
Rensselaer, his head quarters, and relieved Colonel Court- 
land, who had been stationed in this quarter with a regi- 
ment of continental troops. Soon after his arrival, he re- 
ceived advice that the enemy in considerable force were de- 
stroying the settlements at Corey's Town, which lay about 
eleven miles to the south-east of where he was. The steps 



81 

Colonel Willett took to repel this incursion will be seen in the 
following letter to Governor Clinton. 

Fort Rensselaer, \st July, 1781. 
Sir, — In my letter of yesterday, I informed your Excel- 
lency, that, wiiile I was writing, several smokes were disco- 
vered to the south-east ; and that they were supposed to be 
produced by the enem}'" setting- fne to Corey's Town. I had, 
early in the morning', detached ihirty-five men of the levies, 
under the command of Capt. Gross, to Thurloug^li, but, upon 
the discovery of the smoke, I sent an express to Capt. Gross, 
to try to find out the trade of the enemy. At the same time 
that the express w^as sent oif to Captain Gross, I detached 
Captain McKain, with sixteen levies, with directions to col- 
lect as many of the militia as he could, and move towards 
Corey's Town. Notwithstandino; this settlement was eleven 
miles from this place, Captain McKain was in time to assist 
in saving some of the buildings, l>y quenching the fire. In 
the mean time, I w^ as endeavouring to collect as many of the 
militia as I could, in order to join witli the few levies I had, 
to go in pursuit of the enemy. It was dusk before I could 
get ready to march; and when I did march, the whole of 
my force, after being joined by the detachment of Captains 
McKain and Gross, was only one hundred and seventy 
strong. I had been so fortunate, as to discover, not only the 
track of the enemy, but the place where they liad encamped 
the same day ; and had reason to think, that tliey would 
return there again, and, probably, that night. This deter- 
mined me to march directly to the place of their encamp- 
meut. Notwithstanding it was reported that the enemy were 
numerous, and the distance to the encampment eighteen 
miles, still I conceived it possible to arrive there before day, 

and, perhaps, surprise the enemy asleep in their encampment, 

11 



82 

This I should have acconiplis^hed, had it not been for the 
thickness of the woods, and tlie guide losing his way, for a 
considerable time, in the dark. In consequence ' of this 
delay, it was near six o'clock in 'the morning before our 
arrival, so that the enemy discovered our approach in time 
to prepare for our reception. They had left their camp, and 
taken other and better ground, so that we had to prepare 
for the attack under some disadvantages. The enemy, how- 
ever, who were nearly of the same number with us, did not 
wait for us to begin the attack, but, with great appearance 
of determination, by their yelling and shouts, advanced, and 
began the fire. This was the fury of Indians, and nothing 
else ; for upon the huzzas and advance of the front line, 
they soon gave way. At the same instant, another attack 
of the same kind was made upon our right, and would have 
been more injurious to us, had it not been for our reserve 
under the command of Captain McKain, who returned the 
attack with such spirit, that the enemy, dispersing in small 
parties, soon sought safety in flight." 

This battle lasted an hour and a half. The enemy's 
force consisted of about two hundred. Our loss, in killed, 
was five ; missing and wounded, nine. The enemy's loss 
was supposed to be not less than forty, as near that nnmber 
were found dead, on and near the place of action. 

In this action, Captain McKain, a brave, and very valu- 
able officer, received a wound, of which he died, before he 
got to Fort Rensselaer, where he was buried. He had a son 
with liim, a fine lad, who was likewise wounded, but re- 
covered.* 



* See in Appendix, No. 6, the resolution of the Common Council of the 
city of Albany, presenting Colonel Willett with the freedom of the city, for 
this victory. See, also, in Appendix, No. 5, the resolution of Congress, pre- 
senting Colonel Willett with a sword, in commemoration of the sortie from 
Fort Stanwix. 



83 

In consequence of the happy cfTects of this action, but 
little trouble was experienced from the enemy through the 
remainder of the summer. They were sometimes discovered, 
but in no considerable bodies ; and being always pursued, 
they tied, witliout doing much injury. In the afternoon of 
the 24th of October, however, word was brouglit, that the 
enemy had appeared, in considtnable force, at Warrensbush, 
upwards of twenty miles from Fort Rensselaer. No time 
was lost. Collecting all the force that could be mustered, 
and sending orders, at the same time, for the levies and 
militia, in the contiguous posts and settlements, to follow, 
Colonel Willett set out that very afternoon, marched all 
night, and on his arrival in the morning at Fort Hunter, 
learned that the enemy had crossed the river, and, at this 
time, were at Johnstown. A regular British soldier, who, 
by fatigue, had been prevented from crossing the river with 
the troops, having fallen into the hands of the inhabitants, 
they ascertained that the enemy's force' was upwards of eight 
hundred good troops, and one hundred and twenty Indians, 
commanded by Majors Ross and Butler. As the water at 
Fort Hunter was too deep to ford, and the troops had to pass 
in batteaux, it was in the afternoon before all the troops had 
crossed the river. As soon as the passage of the river was 
effected, they proceeded to march, by sections, towards 
Johnstown. On counting tlie sections, it was found, that 
there were one hundred and four, making four hundred and 
sixteen men. This was only about half the number of the 
enemy's troops, without including the Indians. When within 
two miles of Johnstown, Colonel Willett was informed, that 
the enemy had already reached there, had halted, and were 
busy in killing the cattle belonging to the inhabitants. This 
rendered it necessary to attack the enemy as soon as pos- 
sible. On account of the small number of his troops, 



84 

Colonel Willett thought it advisable to divide his force ; 
and while one division made a spirited attack in front, the 
other, performing' a circuit through tlve woods, should attack 
them in the rear, and thus render the chance of success 
more proljable, than to attack with an inferior force, tlie 
enemy's front. 

Having come within view of the enemy, the right wing, 
under Colonel Willett's immediate coiumand, pushed into a 
field adjoining the'one possessed by the enemy, where, open- 
ing to tiiS rigiit, and advancing in a line tow^ards them, he 
pressed them so closely, as caused them to retire to a neigh- 
bouring wood. The advance under Colonel Willett imme- 
diately began to skirmish, while the remainder of the wing 
was advancing briskly in two columns. At this time, while 
the action wore so promising an aspect, without any previous 
notice, or apparent cause, the whole of this wing turned 
about and fled, nor was it in his power to rally them. A 
field-piece, which was left upon a height, at a small distance 
from the wood, to secure a retreat, was abandoned, and fell 
into the hands of the enemy. At this critical period, defeat 
would certainly have ensued, had it not been for the timely 
succour afforded by Major Rowley, of the state of Massachu- 
setts. Advancing with the left wing, composed wholly of 
militia, except about sixty levies from his ov.n state, he at- 
tacked the enem}^ with great intrepidity and vigour, in the 
rear. As it was, the contest was closely disputed until 
after dark, when the enemy were entirely driven from the 
field. They retired six miles back into the woods, leaving a 
great number of their packs behind them, and encamped on 
the top of a mountain. As for the troops under Colonel 
Willett, having procured lights, they collected the enemy's 
wounded, as well as their own, and took about fifty prisoners. 
In this action, Colonel Willett lost about forty men. 



85 

Uncertain as to the route the enemy had taken, two or 
three days elapsed without an}'" movement of importance. 
In the mean time, measures were taken to learn the course 
they intended to take. All, however, tiiat could be dis- 
covered, was, that they were penetrating further into the 
wilderness. From this, Colonel Willett became certain, 
that they were unable to make any sudden stroke below the 
Little Falls, and, consequently, on the 27th, took a position 
on the German Flatts, for the purpose of being between 
the enemy and their boats, which they had left at Oneida 
Creek. Here he was joined by sixty warriors of the Oneida 
tribe, together with some levies and militia, so that his force 
was augmented to upwards of five hundred men. The 28th 
was passed in furnishing the choicest of the troops, together 
with the Indians, with provisions for five days. Toward the 
close of the same day, it having appeared clearly that the 
enemy had relinquished all expectation of returning to the 
boats, and were proceeding either tow^ards Bucks Island or 
to Oswego, Colonel Willett, taking with him about four 
hundred troops, besides Indians, commenced anew the pur- 
suit of the enemy. Crossing the Mohawk at Fort Herkimer, 
the first night, they encamped. The greatest part of the 
next day they continued their pursuit, through a snow 
storm, and encamped again at night in a thick wood. About 
day-light the next morning, a small scout was sent out, and 
returned in a few minutes with the information, that the 
enemy were within a short distance of them. Immediately 
putting the troops under arms, Colonel Willett set out, and 
in a short time fell in with a small detachment of forty men, 
with a few Indians. This detachment, it appears, had been 
ordered to procure a fresh supply of provisions, and were then 
to follow the track of the main body. Some of this party 
were killed, some taken, and the rest dispersed. On coming 



8G 

up with the main body, they made a very feeble resistance, 
showed signs of terror and confusion, and soon set out on a 
trot, in Indian file. Late in the afternoon, after crossing 
Canada Creek, where the water was fordable, the enemy 
showed some signs of resistance, and formed themselves in 
a body, under the command of Major Walter Butler. At this 
spot, Major Butler was slain, having received a shot in his 
eye, which passed through his head : twenty of his men were 
also slain. After this last show of resistance, the enemy again 
fled, and were warmly and closely pursued, until night stopped 
this fatiguing and laborious pursuit. During the night, how- 
ever, they continued their disorderly flight; and, by this 
means, gained greatly the start of their pursuers : but, their 
prospect was most disheartening; indeed, almost certain de- 
struction seemed to await theju. Before them was yet a 
seven days' march, rivers passable only upon rafts, and a 
barren wilderness in an inclement season of the year. All 
these difhculties were to be encountered, and overcome, 
before they could obtain a supply of provisions. To render 
their situation more deplorable still, in the rapidity of their 
flight, they had thrown away their packs and blankets, so 
that they had no covering to protect them from the cold and 
inclemency of the season. 

The enemy having, as has been stated, gained a night's 
march, and Colonel Willett's troops having provisions only 
for five days, the Indians and many of the troops having 
besides in the eagerness of pursuit thrown aside their blankets 
and provisions, which were now twenty miles in the rear, 
it was thought unadvisable to fatigue them any longer. 
The pursuit was therefore relinquished. Col. Willett was 
farther induced to take this course from the consideration 
that the enemy were left in a situation in the wilderness, 
which could hardly have been aggravated by utter defeat 



87 

or captivity. Besides, iiad the pursuit coiitiiuied a day or 
two longer, the situation of his own troops wouhl have been 
little belter than the enemy's. As it was, the victory was 
complete, and they were as likely to reap nearly as great 
benefits from it as if they had succeeded in destroying the 
enemy. 

In this close pursuit, strange as it may appear, notwith- 
standing the enemy had been four days in the wilderness, 
with only half a pound of horse flesh per man a day, yet in 
their famished situation they ran upon a trot, thirty miles 
before they stopped. The Indians, whom Col. Willett used 
to consider as the best cavalry for the wilderness, were par- 
ticularly usefrd in this pursuit. 

The whole of tlie enemy's loss on this occasion cannot be 
told. "The fields of Johnstown," says Colonel Willett's 
official account, " the brooks and rivers, the hills and moun- 
tains, the deep and gloomy marshes, through which the 
enemy had to pass ; these must tell — these only can tell 
their loss." The death of Major Buller, however, in this 
action, is an occurrence that ought to be particularly noticed. 
He was a severe scourge on the frontiers. Walter Butler 
was the son of a Col. Butler, who was Indian agent under 
Sir William Johnson. This Col. Butler lived on a very fine 
farm near Johnstown, not far from the Mohawk river, known 
by the name of Butlersburgh. On this farm Walter was 
born. He studied law in the city of Albany. Soon after 
the commencement of the revolutionary war. Sir John, the 
son of Sir William Johnson, together with Col. Butler, the 
Indian agent, and their families, and the principal part of 
the warriors of the Mohawk Indians, went to Canada, and 
joined the Indians there, who had placed themselves under 
the protection of the British government. In Canada, 
Walter procured a lieutenant's commission, in a regular 



88 

British regiment. He was with Col. St. Leger, at the siege 
of Fort Stanwix, in August 1777. After the disastrous 
battle of General Herkimer, when the great part of the 
well-affected inhabitants of Tryon county was destroj'ed, 
this Walter Butler, with several of the Mohawk Indians, 
went down into that part of the country, to induce as many 
of tiie timid and disaffected of the inhabitants as he could, 
by large promises and violent threatenings, to join the army 
under General St. Leger. He was, as we have seen, taken 
prisoner, tried, and condemned to be hung; but afterwards 
reprieved, sent to Albany, and confined in the city prison. 
The winter following, General La Fayette having been ap- 
pointed to the command of the northern department, some 
of the inhabitants of the city of Albany, who were ac- 
quainted with the family of Butler, and felt a degree of 
sympathy for Butler himself, petitioned the general to 
remove him to a more comfortable place of confinement, 
assuring him that such was the state of his health, he would 
die if this were not done. Upon this petition, the general 
consented to take him out of prison, and place him under 
a guard in a private house ; from which he soon made his 
escape. 

The winter following he came from Niagara, with a party 
of Indians and soldiers, and destroyed the settlement of 
Cherry Valley. In this expedition Butler was the com- 
mander. During the four years that elapsed from Butler's 
conviction as a spy, to the time of his death, he had 
exhibited more instances of enterprise, had done more 
injury, and committed more murders, than any other man 
on the frontiers. Such was the terror in which he was held 
by the inhabitants of the frontiers, so cruel a scourge had he 
been to them, that though Cornwallis's surrender took place 
about this time, yet the inhabitants expressed more joy at 



89 

llie death of Butler, than the capture of Cornwallis. By a 
curious coiucidence, Col. Willett was judge advocate of the 
court, at the lime Butler was scuieiiced to be huug as a 
spy, and now again commander of the parly by which he 
was slain. At liis death, he had the same commission in 
his pocket, which he exhibited at his trial by the court 
martial.* 

So severely was this victory over Major Ross felt, that not 
only through the rest of the winter, but during tlie whole of 
the campaign of 1782, no considerable force of the enemy, 
in one body, at any time appeared. Bodies of Indians, 
by scattering, and appearing in small parties, caused con- 
siderable trouble, but their attempts were never sufficiently 
formidable to cause any serious alarm. Frequent accounts, 
indeed, were brought by individuals, who had discovered 
straggling parties of Indians, on the most exposed part of 
the frontiers, whicli rendered it necessary to use alertness 
and vigilance ; and frequently to dispatch considerable bodies 
of troops in the night, several miles into the wilderness, with 
the hope of falling in with the rear of some of these scatter- 
ing parties of Indians. These expeditions, though fatiguing 
and troublesome, and constantly persisted in, effected but 
little. The timidity or caution of the enemy prevented 
every exertion that was used to overtake or destroy them ; 
so that the campaign of '82 closed without any unportant 
event. 



* It may be well to note in this place, in relation to the death of Butler, that 
the account which is given of it in Marshall's Life of Washington, (Appendix 
to Vol. iv, Note 7,) might lead the reader to infer that there was a degree of 
cruelty used, contrary to the usages of humane warfare. Mr. Marshall 
says, "In the party at Canada Creek, was Major Walter Butler, the 
person who perpetrated the massacre at Cherry Valley. His entreaties for 
quarter were disregarded, and he fell tiie victim of that vengeance wh:ch his 
own savage temper had directed against liimself :" — whereas it appears, from 
Col. Willett's narrative, that Butler was shot dead at once; and that there 
was no lime to implore the mercy of the victors. 

12 



CHAPTER VIII. 






EXPEDITION TO OSWEGO. 



The inhabitants along the frontiers now began to feel 
themselves secure. During the year '82, the recruiting of 
the State troops had been successful, in consequence of the 
legislatures' having adopted the plan of offering a bounty 
of money in lieu of the bounty of land : so that at the close 
of the campaign of '82, Colonel Willett had a regiment of 
upwards of four hundred State troops. 

Winter having set in, barracks for winter quarters were 
prepared ; and as a considerable number of the troops had 
not had the small pox. Col. Willett embraced this opportu- 
nity of having them inoculated. Having seen the troops 
sufficiently provided with quarters for the winter, and erected 
a comfortable log-hut for himself, he set out, toward the last 
of November, for Albany. He then went to Fishkill for his 
wife, intending to take her to his quarters with him during 
the winter. As the head-quarters of General Washington 
were at Newburgh, directly opposite Fishkill Landing, Col. 
Willett went to pay his respects to him, and remained to 
dinner. As soon as dinner was over, he rose to take his 
leave : the general rose also, and following him out, asked 
him to go with him into his office. He then inquired as to 
his success in recruiting, the strength and situation of the 



91 

regiment : said the clothier-general should have particular 
orders respecting their clothing; and mentioned that it 
would be proper to place no reliance on a speedy peace, but 
be as well prepared as possible for another campaign. He 
then inquired of Col. Willctt if he was accpiainted with the 
situation of the enemy's garrison, at Oswego, and if he 
thought it might be surprised by an expedition in the win- 
ter. This was the first time that an opening ever presented 
itself to Col. Willett of a chance of procuring fame, that 
his heart did not vibrate, with joy. The expectation he had 
entertained of spending the winter in comfortable quarters 
with his family at Fort Rensselaer, was destroyed : but to 
say any thing that might appear to discourage so important 
a project, was not in his nature. Tlie conversation tinishcd 
by the general desiring him to think of the project, and 
write him his opinion. 

Agreeably to General Washington's request. Col. Willett, 
in about a week after he left him, wrote to bim in favour c/ 
the enterprise. A correspondence ensued between General 
Washington and Col. Willett : which correspondence, as it 
was secret, was in the general's own hand-writing.* All 
General Washington's orders were strictly observed by Col. 
Willett; and the utmost precaution used to conceal the 
design of the expedition. 

Tbe troops were suddenly assembfed at Fort Herkimer 
on the 8th day of February. On the 9th, at night, tbey 
crossed the Oneida Lake ; and the following day about 2 
o'clock, p. M., the troops arrived at Oswego Falls. At 
this place they went into the woods, and made eight ladders. 
Their prospects were as promising as they could wish. All 
the necessary preparations for entering the enemy's works 
were completed ; and every officer was made acquainted 

* See these letters of Gen. Waslxington, in Appendix No. 9. 



93 

with the particular part he was to perform. It was scarcely 
10 o'clock at night, when the troops reached a point of land 
about four miles from the fort. Here, on account of the 
Weakness of the ice, they were obliged to take to the land ; 
and in doing this they had to ascend an eminence, which 
caused some difficulty in getting up the ladders. 

Colonel Willett had procured a young Oneida Indian, 
called Captain John, and two other Indians, as guides. Not 
a thought entered his mind of the least danger of losing 
their way, as they were then but four miles from the fort, and 
there were still four hours to elapse before the moon set, which 
Was the time fixed upon for entering the fort. Col. Willett's 
attention was constantly engaged in encouraging the men, 
whose business it was to carry the ladders ; a labour, which, 
from the inclemency of the season, the depth of the snow, 
and the difficulties of the woods, was a very arduous one. 
His attention being thus occupied, and not having the least 
apprehension that his guides would lose their way, two hours 
passed without discovering any opening through the woods, 
which he had been for some time expecting. This circum- 
stance led him to hasten to the front of the line of march, 
where he was informed, that the ludian pilot had not been 
seen for some time, though they were pursuing his track as 
fast as they could. Colonel Willett immediately set out to 
follow his track himseil, with as quick a step as possible, and 
in about half an hour overtook him. He found him standing 
still, and apparently lost and frightened. They had by this 
time got into a swamp, and some of the men had their feet 
frozen fast in sunken holes. In this deplorable situation, 
ignorant where they were, the hope of taking the fort by 
surprise, vanished ; and the orders of General Washington 
were peremptory, that if they failed in surprising the fort, the 
attempt would be unwarrantable. All then that was left 



93 

for the troops to do, was to retrace their steps. Many of them 
had suffered much from the frost ; only one frozen to death : 
hut a number were himed, and some so hadly, as to require 
constant assistance to get them along. Such was the gloomy 
end of an enterprise, Avhich, at ten o'clock at night, pre- 
sented so fair a prospect of success. 

Had they been without a guide, and only taken the pre- 
caution to keep in view, of the river, they would have had 
sufficient time between ten o'clock, when they w^ere within 
four miles of the fort, and the setting of tire moon, to have 
effected the design of the expedition. The failure, therefore, 
is to be attributed to the guide losing his way. Colonel 
Willett had been particularly careful to secure the hearty 
co-operation of the Indian, by assuring him, that he should 
not be exposed to any danger ; that all that was required of 
him was to conduct them in sight of the fort ; and that after 
it was taken he should have a full share of the plunder. It 
was not, however. Colonel Willett's opinion, that the Indian 
led them astray by design, though he put him under guard 
when he first perceived the situation into which he had led 
them. It appeared, afterwards, that the mistake of the In- 
dian, originated in his havhig fallen in with two Indian snow- 
shoe tracks, which he had followed all the day ; and as they 
led in a direct course to Oswego, it was natural to suppose 
that the travellers were going to that place. The Indian fell in 
again wnth these tracks soon after leaving the river, and, fol- 
lowing them, was led astray : it w^as afterwards found, they 
led to an Indian encampment, some distance down the lake. 

During this march to Oswego, congress received advice of 
the signing the provisional articles of peace ; and shortly 
after Colonel Willett's return to Fort Rensselaer, he went to 
Albany, where he heard the peace proclaimed by the town- 
clerk, at the city-hall, to the rejoicing inhabitants. 



CHAPTER IX. 



.C*3« 



THE CREEK MISSION. 



The federal constitution liavingbeen adopted, and General 
Washington chosen president, one of his first objects was, 
forming treaties of peace with tlie Indians, In the com- 
mencement of the president's first term of oflftce, several 
tribes of Indians were at open war with the United States. 
Among others, " the Creeks in the south, who could bring 
into the field six thousand fighting men, were at war with 
Georgia. In the mind of their leader, the son of a w^hite 
man, some irritation had been produced by the confiscation 
of the lands of his father, who had resided in Georgia, and 
several other refugees from that state, whose property had 
also been confiscated, contributed still further to exasperate 
the nation. But the immediate point in contest between 
them was, a tract of land on the Oconee, which the state of 
Georgia claimed, under a purchase, the validity of which 
was denied by the Indians. The regular eUective force of 
the United States was less than six hundred men.*" 

To adjust existing differences, and to " negociate a 
peace with the Creek Indians, General Lincoln, Mr. GriflJin, 
and Colonel Humphreys were sent on a mission into that 
country. Tliey met M'GiUivray, with several other chiefs, 

* Marshall, \ol. v. p. 181. 



95 

and about two thousand men, at Rock Landing on the 
Oconee, on the frontiers of Georgia. The treaty com- 
menced with appearances, by no means unfavourable, but 
was soon abruptly broken off by M'Gillivray. Some diffi- 
culties arose on the subject of boundary, but the principal 
obstacles to a peace were supposed to grow out of his per- 
sonal interests, and his connections with Spain."* 

Upon the failure of this negociation with the Creek Indians, 
the Creeks still continuing to manifest a hostile temper, in 
some measure, it was supposed, through Spanish influence, 
it was thought advisable to make another attempt to avert a 
war, " which, should it even extend no further, could be 
attended only with public expense, and private calamity." 
Still, as an attempt " to renew the pacific overtures which 
had ah-eady been rejected, unless they could be made under 
more favourable circumstances, promised no beneficial result, 
and might diminish the respect with which those savages 
contemplated the American government, it was resolved, 
that the agent to be employed should visit the country on 
other pretexts, and should carry a letter of introduction to 
M'Gillivray, blending with other subjects, a strong repre- 
sentation of the miseries which a war with the United States 
would bring upon his people ; of the indiscretion of breaking 
off tbe negociation at the Rock Landing ; and an earnest 
exhortation to repair, with the chiefs of his nation, to the 
seat of the federal government, in order to effect a solid and 
satisfactory peace. The bearer of this letter was also to be 
furnished with passports and letters of safe-conduct, to be 
used if the occasion should require them : but he was 
instructed not to avow the authority with which he was in- 
vested, unless he should be well assured, that the proposition 
he was authorised to make would be favourably received. "f 

* Vide Marshall, vol. v. p. 22'J. t Vide Marshall, vol. v. p. 273. 



96 

In pursuance of this resolution, the day after the arrival of 
the commissioners from Georgia, with an account of the 
faihu-e of the negociation, General Knox called upon Colo- 
nel Willett, informed him of the circum.-rtance, and the desire 
of the president to see him, which was complied with. By 
the president, Colonel Willett was given to understand, that 
suspicions were entertained that the people of Georgia were 
not friendly to a peace, but anxious to procure from Congress 
a force sufficient to subdue them ; that by the statement of 
the secretary of war, it would require fifteen millions of dol- 
lars to effect tliis, and that a considerable portion of the troops 
were to be furnished from the northern states. The presi- 
dent, at the same time, mentioned it as his opinion, that if 
a person acquainted with Indians, could enter the country, 
with such instructions as he would furnish, without the 
knowledge of the people of Georgia, a war might be pre- 
vented, and proper treaties entered into between the United 
States and the Creek Indians. The president closed with 
requesting Colonel Willett to undertake the mission. 

In conformity with the wish of the president. Colonel 
Willett engaged in this service. Having, accordingly, 
received the necessary instructions, and all things being 
ready, he left New York, March 15th, 1790; embarking on 
board a sloop, with a servant and two horses, for Charles- 
town, South Carolina. \- After a tedious passage of fourteen 
days, he landed at Charlestown, where lodgings were pro- 
vided for him by his friend Mr. Adam Gilchrist, in Court 
Lane. He remained in Charlestown until the 2nd of April, 
preparing for his journey ; on which day he left Chalestown, 
having the principal part of his baggage in a sulky, in which 
his servant rode, while he himself went on horseback. The 
servant whom he carried with him, soon showing signs of 
fear, he was obhged to send him back to New York, and to 



97 

fill his place with a German, of whose integrity he wag very 
snspicious. 

Having, on the 13th of April, reached General Picken's, 
whose plantation was sitnated on the Seneca, a large fork of 
the Savannah river, he spent a couple of days at his house 
very agreeably, while the General procured him an Indian, 
as a guide into the country of the Cherokees. The name 
of the Indian was Young Corn : he bore a good name ; and 
his open, manly countenance, corresponded with his charac- 
ter. Here, also. Colonel Willett purchased two additional 
horses : one for a bow-horse, the other for the Indian to ride. 

On Monday, April 1 9th, at 10 o'clock, a. m., says Colonel 
Willett, I crossed the Seneca at General Picken's ferry, and 
commenced the prosecution of my journey into the country 
of the Indians, accompanied by the Young Corn, and my 
man John, in the following order : — my guide, the Young 
Corn, in front, myself next, then the bow-horse, loaded with 
my baggage, and John in the rear. General Pickens crossed 
the ferry with me, and then took his leave. From this gen- 
tleman and his lady I have received the greatest kindness 
and civility, and every necessary assistance for the continu- 
ance of my journey. I proceeded to Colonel Cloveland's, on 
the bank of the Tugeloo, where I met with a good harbour 
for the night. 

Tuesday, the 20lh, after breakfasting, and crossing the 
Tugeloo, which is another fork of the Savannah, proceeded 
according to my yesterday's line of march. Met with a dis- 
aster on the road. The bow-horse took fright, ran away, 
overset his load, and wounded his leg, so that we got only 
twenty-four miles on our journey. Encamped in the woods, 
at a branch of good water ; got myself a neat hut built ; 
supped on chocolate ; and had a very comfortable lodging on 
my bear-skin and blanket., 

13 



98 

21st. Took breakfast in camp ; mounted at sun-rise, and 
arrived at Santee at eleven o'clock, a. m. Crossed the moun- 
tains to this place in a storm of hail. This is the first of the 
Cherokee towns on this route ; it contains sixteen or eigh- 
teen houses, and is surrounded with mountains. The lands 
are of inferior quality. At this place I purchased corn from 
the Indians for my horses, and paid in ribands. Continuing 
my route, passed through a small settlement three miles fur- 
ther on, called Little Chotee, to a small running brook, where 
I encamped. My day's journey was about twenty-eight 
miles. Great part of the way much broken and mountain- 
ous. Course from Tugeloo to Santee about W. by N., from 
thence to where I encamped, nearly S. W. A good supper of 
chocolate, and pleasant night's repose. 

On the 22nd, breakfasted and set out by seven o'clock, a. 
M. Arrived at a town called Huntoweekee, at one o'clock, 
p. M. This is a new settlement : the town has not been 
built more than one year. It is situated on both sides a 
branch of the Cousa river ; contains about fifty houses. Here 
I purchased corn for ribands and paint. Dined in the town ; 
proceeded about eight miles fuither, crossed the river, and 
encamped on its bank. Had young corn cut for my horses* 
fodder. Travelled this day thirty-two miles. While my 
supper was preparing, was so provoked by my man John, 
that I had almost put him into the fire. Tlie Indian stared ; 
John was humbled ; I drank my chocolate, and went to bed. 

23rd. Breakfasted and went on to Long Swamp, or Neue- 
conoheta. This town lies along the bank of a river, called 
Hitower, which empties into the Cousa. The lands from a 
few miles above Huntoweekee to this place are very good ; 
and the country appears open. At this place I met Mr. 
Thomas Gogg, who lives twenty-five miles further on my 
route, at a town called Pine Log, where he is settled as a 



99 

trader. I had a letter of introduction from General Pickens 
to Mr. Gogg, who, in conseqv.ence of that letter, returned 
with me to his town, where I was kindly received by the 
head man, calied YcUdw Bird, ciui several other principal 
men and women. Travelled this day thirty-five miles. 
Course, from Little Chotee to Long Swamp, about w. s. w. 
w., and from thence to Pine Log, w. 

24th. After seeing an Indian ball play, went to Eueste- 
naree, where I arrived at three o'clock, p. m. This is the 
beloved town of the Cherokees, or, iii other words, the town 
of peace, where all transactions relative to peace are discussed 
and settled. It is likewise a city of refuge. The guilty who 
fly here, are safe from punishment while they remain in it. 
No blood may be spilled in this place. It lies along Cousa 
river, nearly n. w. from Pine Log. The path I travelled to it 
from tliat place, runs through a very broken country. I had 
an introductory letter to the Badger and Jobberson, two In- 
dian chiefs, who reside in this place, by whom I was kindly 
received. A Mr. Gary, who had long been an interpreter to 
these people, dwells at this settlement. At his house I found 
tolerable good quarters, and met with a hospitable reception. 
I have engaged Mr. Gary and the Jobberson to accompany 
me to the Creek nation. Here I also learnt, that the shortest 
and best way for me to go to the Creek nation is to return to 
the Pine Log, so that I have come thus far out of my way. 

April 25th. Lay by at Euestenaree. The day warm, but 
fair. 

. 26th. Having increased my company, with Mr. Gary and 
the Jobberson, set out after an early breakfast for the Pine 
Log. At that place baited my horse and dined. (All tliese 
expenses are paid in ribands and paint.) Here took my 
leave of Mr. Gogg, after paying him six dollars for his ser- 
vices, and proceeded to Hihotee, the last of the Cherokee 



100 

towns in this quarter. Here I met with a very friendly re- 
ception from a Mr. Hughes, a Cherokee half-breed, who is 
comfortably situated in this town. Travelled this day thirty- 
five miles. In the afternoon passed over a delightful piece 
of land. A very fine day. 

27th. After breakfasting with Mr. Hughes, crossed the 
river Hitower in a canoe, and swam the horses. I com- 
menced a new line of march. Mr. Gary in front, next the 
Jobberson, then myself, then my bow horse, and the Young 
Corn and John. Travelled twenty-five miles : took a wrong 
track : had no small diflftculty in crossing the woods, through 
a tract of broken land, to find the right path : lost about five 
miles. The day and evening pleasant. I was exceedingly 
distressed with a pain in my stomach. Most of the land bad; 
considerably stony and hilly. 

28th. Had my breakfast, and was mounted by six o'clock 
in the morning. Crossed this day the Pumkin Posk 
mountains, which lie about twenty-five miles from Hitower. 
They are about three miles across, considerably steep, and 
part of the way difl[icult to pass. Made a halt from twelve 
to two o'clock, then went on until near sun-set. Travelled 
this day thirty-five miles, and encamped at a small running 
brook. The land passed over in the forenoon, bad ; that in 
the afternoon, good. Crossed one sharp hill in the afternoon. 
The rest of the way easy, though something hillv. The 
day pleasant. 

29th. Frost last night. It was some time before the horses 
were found, but, by steady travelling, made ovit thirty-five 
miles. The lands in general good : hills and dales. Most 
of the hills appear good for wheat ; a few very stony, and a 
few barren. The timber, chesnut, oak, hickory, ash, poplar, 
with some maple and beach ; very little under-brush : the 
path in general easy. Passed two handsome brooks, one 



101 

about twenty, and the other ten yards wide, within a quarter 
of a mile of each other. All these waters must enter the 
Cousa river : they have hard bottoms, and are easy to ford. 
I observed a large ridge of mountains to the southward. 

Friday, April 30th. Proceeded to the first Creek settle- 
ment, about twelve miles from which I encamped. From 
thence I went to a Mr. Scott's, three miles further on, where 
I met with a hospitable reception. Mr. Scott is a European; 
has been a trader in this nation for many years, and has con- 
siderable property. Here I learnt that Colonel M'Gillivray 
was at the Oak Fusky, an Indian town, about thirty 
miles distant, and that he \vas expected at a Mr. Grierson's, 
who is likewise a trader, living at the Killebees, eight 
miles from Mr. Scott's. Mi-. Scott accompanied me to Mr. 
Grierson's, and at six o'clock, p. m. I had the satisfaction of 
seeing Colonel M'Gillivray arrive at that place. After 
delivering him my introductory letter, I had some conversa- 
tion with him ; and after a good supper, and most kind 
entertainment, I went to bed, happy in being under the 
same roof with the man I have travelled thus far to see. 
Colonel M'Gillivray appears to be a man of an open, 
candid, generous mind, with a good judgment, and very 
tenacious memory. ' The land I passed over this morning, 
little better than barren ; within the settlement of the Kil- 
lebees it is good : the day was pleasant. The course from 
Hitower to the Killebees, about s. w. 

The 1st and 2nd of May I remained at Mr. Grierson's: 
both days pleasant. Here I attended black drink for the first 
time. This is an ancient custom, peculiar to this nation. It 
is a strong decoction of a leaf, called Kasina. The leaf is 
parched before it is boiled. This custom carries with it an 
appearance of a religious nature. It is very ceremonious. 
The diink is usually boiled in the centre of a square, set 



102 

apart in every town, near what is commonly called the Hot- 
house. The square consists of four rows of seats, from forty 
to fifty yards long, frontrng- eacli other, leaving an opening 
at eacJi angle for entrance. The seats are neatly mailed 
with reed, and covered with hark. They are ten or twelve 
feist deep, rising higher in the rear than in the front, so as to 
give each person as he sits, an opportunity of seeing what is 
doing in the squaie. The hot-houses are nearly of a cir- 
cular form, seated in the same manner, and covered close 
with bark, having only one small door of entrance. The 
hot-houses are sutBciently large to contain several hundred 
persons. In these squares and hot-houses all public busi- 
ness is transacted. 

When the black drink is sufficiently boiled, and ready for 
use, a principal warrior goes to it, and calls as many men 
(all of whom must be warriors of eminence) as he may think 
sufficient to serve the company present with drink. To each 
of these, the chief warrior hands a gourd filled with the liquor. 
These men having received the drink, arrange themselves 
directly in front of the persons intended first to be served ; 
and at a given signal, all together put the gourds filled with 
the liquor, into the hands of the persons they are respectively 
to serve, who immediately place it to their mouths, and hold 
it there, until the servers have sung out two long notes. 
The gourds are then returned to the servers, who go on to 
serve the whole company in the same manner, with no other 
ceremony, except saying to each person, Drink, until the pot 
of liquor is emptied. But at the commencement of every 
fresh boiling, the notes are repealed. 

During the ceremony of the black drink, the chiefs usually 
exhort the young men to be careful in performing their 
duties, and admonish them on such subjects as they con- 
ceive most beneficial. 



103 

In these squares and hot-houses, all their busks are like- 
wise held. Their grand busk is when they receive the 
first fruits of their green corn. On this occasion they under- 
go purgations and fastings, for four successive days and 
nights. At the expiration of this term all the fires in the 
town are put out, and a new fire made by the friction of two 
pieces of wood. This new fire is carried to every house in 
the village. On this solemn occasion all former offences 
are forgiven. The {)urgations and fastings are considered 
as expiatory ; and with the new fire a new friendship com- 
mences among all persons. 

Monday, 3d of May, set out from Mr. Grierson's, accom- 
panied by Col. M'Gillivray, his servant, and all the company 
I brought with me from the country of the Cherokees, ex- 
cept Young Corn, who lagged behind the day on which I 
arrrived at the KiUibees, and I have heard nothing from him 
since. Mr. Grierson merits my particular acknowledgments 
for the attentions and civilities I received from him during: 
my stay at his house. We went only twelve miles from Mr. 
Grierson's to a town called the Fish Pond. In the evening I 
attended black drink, and an Indian dance at this town. 

On the 4th went to the Hickory Ground, where Colonel 
M'Gillivray lives: distance 30 miles. The course from the 
Killebees to this place, s. w. The weather was fine : the 
land tolerably good. 

5th and 6th. Remained at Col. M'Gillivray's : pleasant 
weather. The people in the next town are busking for 
mulberries. 
^^ May 7th. This day Colonel M'Gillivray sent out ten 
broken days for tlie chiefs of the lower towns to meet at 
Ositchy, in order to consult on my business. (Broken days 
are a number of sticks sent to the towns intended to be as- 
sembled. One of the sticks is thrown away each day, and 



104 

when they are all gone, they know it is the time to meet.) 4^ 
This is a pleasant day. In the course of the day, I went to a 
place called the Apple Grove, five miles from where Col. 
M'Gilhvray lives. This place is improved by M'Gillivray. 
It is the place of his birth, and is situated, as well as the 
place where he dwells, on the banks of the Cousa, a very 
fine river. The Apple Grove is the pleasantest place of the 
two. At this place I had a delicious regale of strawberries 
and mulberries. Under the bank by the shore I found a 
pleasing and delightful recess, where I spent three hours 
alone. After which I went up to the house, had a dinner 
of fish, and returned home. 

8th. Took a walk to see the old French Alabama fort : or 
rather the place where it stood, on the banks of the Cousa : 
for there is scarcely a trace of it to be seen at present. 
About two miles lower down is the conflux of. this, and the 
Toloposa rivers : at which place they form the river Mobile, 
which empties itself into the Gulf of Florida, about 60 miles 
west of Pensacola. 

Sunday the 9th. There was a light rain. This is the 
first rain I have seen since the 21st of last month. I re- 
mained here all day. 

10th, was a rainy day ; notwithstanding which, I went 
to see a ball play. 

On the 11th there were several heavy showers. I was 
very busy preparing for my journey to the treaty. 

Wednesday, May 12th. At 9 o'clock a. m., set out 
for the lower towns in company with M'Gillivray, his ser- 
vant and my own, to attend the treaty. Reached Mr. Car- 
nell's, the interpreter, who lives at Tuckabatchy, at 4 o'clock, 
p. M., a distance of 25 miles. On our way we had a shower 
of rain. Course the first half day south east; the other 



105 

half about east. The greater part of the lands wc passed 
over were good ; some very good. 

13th. We crossed the Toloposa, accompanied by the 
interpreter, and proceeded to the Talhne Kings: distance 
20 miles. On our way stopped at Mr. McQueen's, an old 
Scotchman, who said he had been a trader in this nation 
between fifty and sixty years. The day following set out 
for the Hallowing Kings, where wc arrived at 2 o'clock, p. m. 
The course of these two days about e. s. e. : a light sandy 
soil : country open and level. 

15th. Thunder and rain last night ; went to the Cowe- 
tas ; road good, land bad ; weather warm. Put up at Mr. 
Deresau's, who is a trader at this place. It is a numerous 
settlement. A rum drinking among the Indians : of course 
troublesome. 

Sunday 16th. Heavy thunder and rain great part of the 
night. At two o'clock, p. m., for the town of Ositchy ; ar- 
rived there at 6 : warm weather : the road and land in 
general good. Tliis town, as well as the Cowetas and 
Eueschetas and many others, lie along the banks of the 
Chotohotchy river, which runs into the Gulph of Florida. 

Monday 17th. Attended black drink at the square in 
this town, with the chiefs, who were assembled agreeably 
to the order of the broken days, at 1 1 o'clock a. m. Delivered 
them the following speech. 

Brothers : — I am come to you from our beloved town by 
order of our beloved chief, George Washington, to invite you 
to a treaty of peace and friendship at a council fire in our 
beloved city. 

Brothers: Our beloved chief, who wishes prosperity to 

the red people, as well as to the white, has directed me to 

advise you that he is very desirous of forming a lasting 

treatv of peace and amity with your nation. That in 

14 



106 

order to do this effectually, it is his wish to have his own 
name, and the name of your beloved chief, fixed to the treaty, 
tliat it may be strong and lasting. 

Brothers : 1 am very pouitedly instructed to inform you 
that the United States want none of your lands : that effec- 
tual measures will be taken to secure them all to you by 
our beloved chief; who has an arm sufficiently strong to 
punish all such as may presume to act contrary to any treaty 
which he, in conjunction with your beloved chief, may 
make 

Brothers : Our beloved chief is ready to agree with your 
beloved chief to secure to you your lands : to promote your 
trade by affording you means of procuring goods in a cheap 
and easy way; and to do all such things as will contribute 
to promote the welfare and happiness of your nation. 

Brothers : I stand before you, a messenger of peace. It 
is your interest, and it is our interest, that we should live 
in peace with each other, I promise myself, that you will 
attend to this friendly invitation ; and that your beloved 
chief, with such other of your chiefs and warriors as you 
may choose for that purpose, will repair with me to the 
council fire, that is kindled in our beloved town, that we 
may form a treaty, which shall be strong as the hills, and 
lasting as the rivers. 

After withdrawing for one hour, I was called in, and 
received the following answer. 

Brother : We are glad to see you. You have come a 
great way ; and as soon as we fixed our eyes upon you, we 
were made glad. We are poor, and have not the knowledge 
of white people. 

Brother : Our fathers have told us,' v.iienever any wliite 
people came among us, we should take tliem by the hand, 
and use them well. We have always followed their advice. 



107 

Brother : We were invited to a treaty at the Rock Land- 
ing : we went there — notliing was done : we were disap- 
pointed, and came back willi sorrow. 

Brother : You say, you come from your beloved chief, 
jGeorge Washington, to invite our beloved chief to a council 
fire, in your beloved town. The road is very long, and the 
weather is very hot ; but our beloved cliief will go with you, 
and such otlier cliiefs and warriors as shall be appointed for 
that purpose will go with him. 

Brotlier : All that our beloved chief shall do, we will 
agree to. We wish you may be preserved from every evil. 
We will count the time our beloved chief is away ; and 
when he comes back, we shall be very glad to see him, 
with a treaty, that shall be as strong as the hills, and last 
as long as the rivers. 

The business at this place being finished to our mutual 
satisfaction, returned into Deresau's, where we arrived at 
six o'clock. Had a heavy shower of rain by the way. ,. - 

The day following remained at Mr. Deresau's. The after- 
noon was rainy. 

19th. Left Deresau's, after a late breakfast; travelled 
until near sun-set, and encamped in the woods. Had 
several showers of rain by the way. 

20th. Started very early ; halted and breakfasted at the 
Tame Kings : then proceeded to Mr. Carrel's, at Tucka- 
batchy. This is a fine settlement. The lands are very 
good ; the prospect along the banks of the river has a p!e;ts- 
ing effect, and all nature seems to conspire to make this a 
most agreeable settlement. 

21st. This morning I took black drink with the chiefs, 
who had assembled from the upper town, and delivered 
my talk to them ; after which, I received the following 
answer. 



108 

Brother : You tell us you come from your beloved chief, 
George Washington, to invite us to a council fire, in your 
beloved town ; to make a peace, that shall last as long as 
the rivers. 

Brother : We are willing to be at peace. We love to stay 
at home, and luind our hunting. We were invited to a 
treaty at the Rock Landing ; we went there ; we were 
made fools of, and came back without doing any thing. 

Brother : We did not mean to go to any more treaties 
with your people ; but you have come a great way, and you 
speak very good : our beloved chief, and such other chiefs 
and warriors as may be chosen, will go with you ; and we 
will agree to all they may do. 

At Ositchy, the answer was delivered by the Hallowing 
King, who is a fine looking man, and a great orator ; and at 
Tuckabatchy, it was delivered by a half-breed, called the 
White Lieutenant, a very respectable chief, a venerable 
looking man, and a good speaker. 

Having finished our business in the square at Tucka- 
batchy, with the same success as at Ositchy, we returned 
to Mr. Camel's ; took breakfast, and set out for Colonel 
M'Gillivray's, at which place we arrived at six o'clock, p. m., 
having had a shower of rain by the way. 

Saturday, May 22nd. This day I wrote to the secretary 
of war, and sent my letter by Mr. Cary, for which, and his 
other services, I paid forty dollars. The Jobberson returned 
home, before I went to the lower town. The day very 
pleasant. 

Saturday, May 29th. This day I crossed the Toloposa, 
and went five miles to see a most superb ball play. There 
were about eighty players on a side. The men, women, 
and children, from the neighbouring towns, were assembled 
upon this occasion. Their appearance was splendid : all 



109 

the paths leading to the place were filled with people ; some 
on foot, some on hoisebaclc. The play was conducted with 
as much order and decorum as the nature of things would 
admit of The play is set on foot by one town sending a 
challenge to another ; if the challenge l)e accepted, tlie time 
and place are fixed on, and the whole night before the play 
is employed by the parties in dancing, and some other cere- 
monious preparations. On the morning of the play, the 
players on both sides paint and decorate themselves, in the 
same manner as when they are going to war. Thus deco- 
rated, and stripped of all such clothing as would encumber 
them, they set out for the appointed field. The time of 
their arrival is so contrived, that the parties arrive near the 
field at the same time ; and when they get within about 
half a mile, in .a direction opposite to each other, you hear . 
the sound of the war song and the yell ; when, presently, the 
parties appear in full trot, as if fiercely about to encounter in 
fight. In this manner they meet, and soon become inter- 
mingled together, dancing while the noise continues. Si- 
lence then succeeds : each player places himself opposite to 
his antagonist. The rackets which they use are then laid 
against each other, in the centre of the ground appointed 
for the game. They then proceed to measure a distance of 
three hundred yards, one hundred and fifty each way, from 
the centre, where they erect two poles, through which the 
ball must pass, to count one. The play is commenced by 
the balls being thrown up in the air, from the centre ; every 
player, then, with their rackets, of which each has two, 
endeavours to catch the ball, and throw it between the 
poles ; each side labouring to throw it between the poles 
towards their own towns ; and every time this can be 
accomplished, it counts one. The game is usually from 
twelve to twenty. This was lost by the challengers. Large 



110 

bets are made upon these occasions ; and great strength, 
agility, and dexterity are displayed. Tlie whole of the 
present exhibition was grand, and well conducted. It some- 
times happens, that the inhabitants of a town game away 
at these plays all their clothes, ornaments, and horses. 
Throughout the whole of the game, the women are con- 
stantly on the alert, with bottles and gourds filled with 
drink, watching every opportunity to supply the players. 
The day was fair ; and I returned home, much pleased with 
the amusement. 

On Tuesday, the 1st of June, at eleven o'clock in the 
morning, I set out from Colonel M'Gillivray's house, at 
Little Tallasee, on my return for New York, accompanied by 
Colonel M'Gillivray, his nephew and two servants, with 
eight warriors belonging to the Upper Creeks, my man John, 
and several bow, and some spare horses. 

June 9, at nine o'clock, a. m., arrived at the Stony Moun- 
tains, about eight miles from which we encamped. Here 
we found the Cowetas and Curatas, to the number of eleven, 
waiting for us. Lay by until three o'clock, p. m., then pro- 
ceeded eight miles, and encamped by a large creek of the 
waters of the Oak Mulgee. Course in general nearly e. 
N. E. Pleasant day : shower of rain after we encamped. 
While I was at the Stony Mountains I ascended the summit. 
It is one solid rock, of a circular form, about a mile across. 
Many strange tales are told by the Indians of this mountain. 
I have now passed all the Indian settlements, and shall only 
observe, that the inhabitants of these countries appear very 
happy ; and while the red and white alternately blend in 
their countenances, health and fragrance breathe around. 

June 14th. We arrived at Hopewell; crossed the Seneca 
river at General Picken's Ferry : distance twenty miles : 
pleasant day. Here we received a most hearty welcome. 



Ill 

15tli. Fair weather. At Hopewell the Tallisee king 
arrived, with other Indians, from the middle towns : the 

overtook us by the way, with one more from the 

upper towns. The great Notchy warrior also arrived, with 
three more from the Notches. 

Friday, June 18th. Left General Picken's at ten o'clock. 
Twenty-six of the Indians, in three waggons, and four on 
horseback ; Colonel M'Gillivray, his nephew, two servants, 
and the interpreter, with my man, were likewise on horse- 
back, and myself in my sulky. General Picken accom- 
panied us as far as Mr. Hambleton's, fifteen miles, where 
we put up for the night. 

Sunday, June 27th, we proceeded to Guilford Court-house, 
and took quarters at Captain Dent's. About two hours after 
we arrived at this place. Colonel M'Gillivray was visited by 
a Mrs. Brown, who had formerly been a prisoner in the 
Creek nation. She was captured, with several of iier chil- 
dren, by a party of Indians, who at the same time killed her 
husband. She was redeemed from her captivity by Colonel 
M'Gillivray, with whom she afterwards lived twelve months. 
The meeting was truly affecting. 

At nine o'clock, on the morning of July the 6th, I arrived 
at Richmond, where I had a dinner provided for the Indians, 
who came in at three o'clock in the afternoon. At this 
place I remained the 7th, 8th, and 9th. During our stay 
at Richmond we were treated with the greatest attention. 
On the 8th, Colonel M'Gillivray and myself dined in the 
academy with the governor, council, judges, a number of the 
gentlemen of the bar, and other persons of distinction. 

9th. On our arrival at Fredericksburgh, we were hurried 
to the theatre, and, notwithstanding the entire derangement 
of our plan, for the prosecution of our journey, we could not 



112 

avoid remaining' at that place all day. Dined at a public 
dinner with the chiefs. Visited Mrs. Lewis, the sister of our 
president, and several others of his relations. Viewed the 
place in which he was bred, and the cottage in which his 
mother died. 

Saturday 17th. Set out for Philadelphia; was met by a 
message from the president and council of Pennsylvania, 
expressing a desire that I should halt at Gray's Ferry. After 
halting and refreshing, for two or three hours, we were 
escorted into the city. In the evening, returned to Gray's 
gardens, to see the exhibition there. 

Monday, 19th July. This day was taken up in paying 
visits. The Indians were shewn a great many curiosities in 
and about Philadelphia ; visited, formally, by a committee 
from the society of Friends. Had a public dinner : was at 
the theatre at night. 

On Tuesday, the 20th, left Philadelphia, at the dawn of 
day ; arrived at Elizabeth-town Point at four o'clock in the 
afternoon, from which place, just at dusk, I set out for New 
York, in a row-boat. Landed at White-hall dock, between 
nine and ten o'clock. Set out again for Elizabeth-town^ 
Point, at two o'clock in the morning, at which place I arrived 
at six o'clock, where I found a sloop, which had been sent 
from New York, ready to transport us to that place. Em- 
barking on board of the sloop, with the Indians, for New 
York, we landed about noon, near the CoflTee-house, and were 
received, with great splendour, by the Tanmiany society, in 
the dress of their order ; conducted up Wall-street, passed the 
Federal Hall, where congress were in session, and with much 
pomp and parade, escorted to the president's. After their 
introduction to the president, the Indians, with additional 
parade, visited the minister of war, and governor Clinton ; 



113 



and then repaired to the City Tavern, where an elegant en- 
tertainment finished the day.* 



* On the first information, at St. Augustine, that M'Gillivray was about to 
repair to New York, the intelligence was communicated to the governor at 
Havanna, and the secretary of East Florida came to New York, with a large 
sum of money, to purchase flour, as it was said, but to embarrass the negotia- 
tions with the Creeks, was believed to be his real design. 

He was closely watched, and measures were taken to render any attempta 
he might make, abortive". — See MarsliaU''s Life of Washingt&n, vol. v. p. 274, 



15 



CHAPTER X. 



-odoe 



CONCLUSION. 



Immediately after the war, in the year *84, Col. Willett 
was appointed Sheriff of the city and country of New York : 
which office he held for a term of four years. After his 
return from the Creek Mission, he was again, in the year 
'92, appointed to the same office ; and held it for another term 
of four years. In this year, also, he was appointed briga- 
dier-general in the army which was intended to operate 
against the hostile tribes, north west of the Ohio. The fol- 
lowing letters from Gen. Knox, at that time Secretary of 
War, refer to this appointment. 

War Department, ,Rpnl I2th, 1792. 

Sir: — I have the honour to inform you, that the President 
of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate, has appointed you a brigadier-general in the 
army of the United States. 

You will please immediately to signify your acceptance 
or non-acceptance of this appointment : — in case of your 
acceptance you will repair to Philadelphia, with all possible 
dispatch. 

In order that you may judge of the pay, rations, and emol- 
uments for the commissioned and non-commissioned officers. 



115 

and privates in tiie service of tlie Uaited States, I enclose 
you the act of Congress relative to the military establish- 
ment. 

I have the honor to be, 
Sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 
KNOX. 
Secretary of War. 
Brig.- Gen. Marinus Willett. 



[ Private. ] 

Philadelphia, April \2th 1792. 
My Dear Sir, — You will herewith receive official infor- 
mation of your appointment of Brigadier-General. 
The officers are, 

Anthony Wayne, Major- General. 
Daniel Morgan, Brigadier-General. 
Marinus Willett, ditto, ditto. 
John Brooks, ditto, ditto. 

James Wilkinson, is nominated for the fourth brigadier- 
general, not yet appointed. 
It has been said that the acceptance of Morgan is doubt- 
ful. Of this I can say nothing. But if he should decline, 
then you would be second in command. 

I have been anxious for your appoint on this occasion, 
being convinced of your talents to render service to your 
country and honour to yourself. Let me hear from you by 
the return of the post. 

Yours sincerely, 

KNOX. 
Colonel Willett. 



116 

Before Colonel Willett received the above official notifica- 
tion, he wrote the folloviring letter to General Washington, 
with the intention of stopping the appointment 

Mw York, 14th ^pril, 1792. 

Sir, — A report has reached me, in a way I cannot doubt 
of, that I am in nomination for the office of brigadier-gene- 
ral. This is a fresh instance of the estimation in which 
I stand with you, and of course very flattering to me. The 
repeated instances of your regard, which I have experienced, 
are convincing evidences of your desire to promote my wel- 
fare. It is therefore with regret I find myself nominated for 
an office, which, under existing circumstances, would oper- 
ate to my disadvantage. My desire to serve my country is 
not abated; yet when I reflect upon my present situation, and 
the nature of the service which the appointment would re- 
quire of me, I am led to decline engaging in it ; and flatter 
myself this step will not be disapproved of by you. 

It has been my uniform opinion, that the United States 
ought to avoid an Indian war. I have generally conceived 
this to be our wisest policy. The reasons alledged in sup- 
port of the present Indian war, have never brought convic- 
tion to my mind. From my knowledge and experience of 
these people, I am clear that it is not a difficult thing to pre- 
serve peace with them. That there are bad men among 
them, and that these will at times do acts which deserve 
punishment, is very clear. But I hold, that to go to war, is 
not the proper way to punish them. Most of the Indians 
that I have had any knowledge of, are conceited and vain. 
By feeding their vanity you gain their good opinion ; and 
this in time procures their esteem and affection. By con- 
ciliating their good will, you will render them susceptible of 
almost any impression. They are credulous, yet suspicious. 



117 

They think a great deal ; and have in general good notions 
of right and wrong. They frequently exhibit proofs of 
grateful minds ; yet they are very revengeful. And though 
they are not free from chicanery and intrigue, yet if their 
vanity is properly humored, and they are dealt justly by, it 
is no difficult matter to come to reasonable terms with them. 
The intercourse I have had with these people, the treat- 
ment I have myself received from them, and which I 
have known others to receive, makes me an advocate for 
them. To fight with them, would be the last thing I should 
desire. And yet, Sir, I declare, from the experience I have 
had, l^do not conceive it difficult to beat them, when 
brought to action. When in small parties they scatter 
themselves along a frontier, they have always been 'found 
exceedingly troublesome and dangerous. This kind of war- 
fare is their forte ; and in it, they are found to be truly tre- 
mendous. But when they attempt any thing in large bodies, 
I have found, notwithstanding their great dexterity in the 
wilderness, and the advantage they usually derive from the 
admirable position they take, that they are easily beat. 
In marching through woods, where troops are exposed to 
attacks from Indians, particular attention should be paid 
not only to the mode and line of march, but also to extend 
small parties and single men far on the flanks in front and 
in rear. But whenever a serious attack is made, which is 
usually furious, an instantaneous charge, with huzzaing, 
sufficiently loud to drown the noise the Indians make, will 
never ftxil to repel them. And this stroke repeated and pur- 
sued, will, I am well convinced, terminate in victory. And 
yet victory even over Indians is generally paid for : but de- 
feats are terrible. The honour, however, of fighting and beat- 
ing Indians, is what I do not aspire after. If in any way 
I could be instrmnental in effecting and maintaining peace 



118 

with them, it would be to me a source of great gratification. 
I have the honor to be your Excellency's 

obedient humble servant. 
Marinus Willett. 
To the President of the United States. 

Colonel Willett having declined the appointment of briga- 
dier-general, he was shortly after requested to attend, in a 
pacific character, a great council, which was to be held 
at the Miami village, in order, if possible, to effect a peace 
between the Indians and the United States. The duties of 
his ofiice, however, which at that time were very CBrduous 
and important, led him to decline this offer. The following 
is General Knox's letter on this subject. 

\^Private and confidential.] 

War Department, I8th April, 1792. 
Sir, — It was with regret I read your letter of , 



declining the acceptance of the commission of a brigadier- 
general : but you have the right to be perfectly master of 
your own conduct. 

The president of the United States has showed me your 
letter of the 14th instant, wherein you express your ideas of 
an Indian war. Be assured, that nothing can be more 
disagreeable to him and the government. But the present 
hostilities originated in the war with Great Britain, and that 
they continued without intermission, and increased from 
time to time, until they became too enormous to be longer 
overlooked by government, cannot be doubted by any impar- 
tial man, who will attend to the evidence. 

But, notwithstanding the past, it is the desire of the 
president of the United States, to terminate it without the 
further effusion of blood : preparatory overtures have been 



119 

made to the Indians, who are to have a great council at the 
Miami village the next month. 

But a person of character, intelligence, and address, is 
required to he present at that council, in behalf of the 
United States, to unfold in terms which the Indians will 
comprehend. 

First, that we require no lands but those which we con- 
ceive to have been fairly purchased, of those tribes who had 
a right to sell. 

Secondly, that if any of the tribes can show just right to 
any lands they claim, by virtue of the said treaties, they 
shall be liberally compensated for such right. 

Thirdly, that we are not only willing to be at peace with 
all nations, but to impart to them such of the blessings of 
civilization as will suit their condition. 

Fourtlily, it is conceived, were they convinced of the truth 
of those sentiments, that peace must be the consequence. 
But, the difficulty is, to find a suitable character. You have 
been applied to, and declined. It would appear, however, 
from your letter to the president, that you would seem still 
to be desirous of being of service to your country, at this time. 

I am authorized to assure you, that if you will still under- 
take the business, in which, from the preparatory measures, 
I can assure you there will be but little personal hazard, 
(although that would not be a consideration with you,) that 
you would render your country a most acceptable service. 
That if you succeed, of which I should flatter myself, you 
will have the glory thereof, besides being most liberally 
compensated, in a pecuniary wav, which shall be stipulated 
to your satisfaction. 

If you should incline to undertake this aflfair, not a moment 
of time should be lost in repairing here. The way would be 
by Pittsburg, down to Fort Washington ; every facihty of 



120 

guards would be afforded you. Captain Hendricks, and 
perhaps others of the Indians, here present, might accom- 
pany you. Besides, there are women prisoners at Fort 
Washington, and, probably, friendly Wabash Indians, who 
would accompany you. ■ 

Permit me to urge your compliance with tliis invitation to 
perform the mission, and that you would, immediately and 
expUcitly, inform me of your determination. 

I am. Sir, with great respect. 

Your most obedient humble servant, 
Knox. 
Colonel Marinus Willett. 

To this letter, Colonel Willett made the following reply. 

JVetc York, Jlpril 21sf, 1792. 
giRj — I have been honoured with your letter of the 18th 
instant. I do indeed feel myself disposed, as I trust I always 
shall be, to render to my country every service in my power ; 
nor is it possible for me to express the satisfaction I should 
receive in seeing an end of tne present unhappy Indian war. 
The desire of the president of the United States, to bring about 
a peace, on terms of equity, and to prevent the further effusion 
of blood, are so consonant to my mind, that had it not been 
for the disagreeable and disorderly appearances in this 
city, arising fiom the numerous bankruptcies which have 
lately taken place, I should have been induced to set out 
immediately for the seat of the general government, with a 
view of rendering every aid in my power to bring about so 
desirable an object. But there never was a time when 
the exercise of the powers of the office, which I now hold, 
appeared more requisite for the preservation of good order. 
I cannot, therefore, think of absenting myself, until appear- 
ances become more favourable. 



121 

Be assuredj sir, that I have a high sense of the honour 
done by the president of the United States, in this ma*k of 
his confidence, and, that 

I am, with great respect. 

Your most obedient servant, 

MaRINUS WlLLETT. 

In the year 1807, he was appointed Mayor of the city of 
New York, which ofiice he held one year. 

During the last war, though unable, through the infirmi- 
ties of age, to take an active part in it, he yet laboured to 
promote a spirit of patriotism, and military ardour, among his 
fellow-citizens. His speech at the great meeting in the 
Park will be found in the Appendix.* 

One of the last acts in which Colonel Willett appeared 
as a public character, was that of chairman of the Greek 
committee. Extracts from his speech on that occasion will 
be found in the Appendix. f 

During, however, the last years of liis life. Colonel Willett 
mingled but little in public affairs. Surrounded by his 
family and friends, he yielded slowly, but not reluctantly, 
to the gradual progress of decay. He had outlived his 
generation, and found, from his own experience, as he often 
expressed it, the truth of the Psalmist's declaration : " The 
days of our years are three- score years and ten ; and if by 
reason of strength they be four-score years, yet is their 
strength labour and sorrow ; for it is soon cut off, and 
we fly away." His mind was constantly fixed upon his 
approaching change. With the greatest hmnility, but at 
the same time with the most lively feelings of piety, did he 
acknowledge the astonishing mercy of God, in devising a 

+ Sec Appendix, No. 10. t Sec Appendix, No. 11. 

16 



122 

plan of salvation through an infinite Redeemer, so merci- 
fully adapted to the fallen and miserable condition of the 
human family. His only hope of salvation rested upon 
repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 
He was seized a few months prior to his decease with an 
attack of paralysis, from which he entirely recovered. His 
constitution was, however, much enfeebled ; and the occa- 
sional use of medicine was required to remove constipation. 
The absence of his physician induced him to neglect the 
use of the required remedies, and a diarrhoea followed, which 
prostrated his strength, and terminated his* life, on Sunday, 
the 23d of August, 1830, in the ninety-first year of his age. 



Upon the news of Col. Willett's death, the following reso- 
lutions were passed in the Common Council, and transmitted 
to his widow, accompanied with the annexed letter from the 
Mayor. 

Mayor's Office, City Hall, August 24th, 1830. 

Madam, — In obedience to the directions of the Common 
Council of the city of New York, I fulfil the melancholy duty 
of transmitting to you the enclosed resolutions, which the 
death of your husband, our much lamented fellow-citizen, 
Col. Marinus Willett, has called forth. 

Permit me. Madam, to unite my own feelings of sym- 
pathy and sorrow with those of the Common Council, on 
the heavy bereavement with which it has pleased an all- 
wise God to afflict you and your family, and to assme you 
that his memory will always be cherished by me with the 
deepest veneration. 

I have the honour to be. Madam, 

Your most obedient Servant, 

Walter Bowne, Mayor. 

Mrs, Marinus Willett. 



123 

In Common Conncil, August 23d, 1830. 

His Honor, the Mayor, having announced to the Board 
the death of Col. Marinus Willctt, the Recorder offered the 
following resolutions, which were adopted unanimously. 

Resolved, That the Common Council entertain for the 
memory of Col. Marinus Willctt, the most profoimd respect. 
That they remember with grateful recollection the emi- 
nent public services of the deceased. His patriotism and 
devotion to his country — his achievements in the war of the 
revolution — his valor in battle — his heroic firmness in the 
most dangerous of military enterprises, and his early, con- 
stant, and unshaken support to the great cause of American 
independence. 

Nor is the Common Council unmindfid of the strong claims 
which the deceased has upon the respectful feelings of his 
fellow-citizens, for the able, upright, and enlightened man- 
ner in which he discharged his civil duties, in the various 
important public stations which he filled. 

Resolved, That as a tribute of respect to the virtues of 
Col. Marinus Willett, the Corporation of the city of New 
York w411 assemble at the Common Council Chamber, in 
the City Hall, at 4 o'clock to-morrow afternoon, and will 
from thence proceed to attend the funeral of the deceased. 

Resolved, That a copy of the preceding resolutions, with 
the condolence of the Common Council, be transmitted by 
his Honor, the Mayor, under the corporate seal, to the family 
of Col. Willett. Walter Bowne, Mayor. 



In the Court for the trial of Impeachments and the Cor- 
rection of Errors, held on Tuesday, August 24th, 1830, 
the death of Col. Willett being announced, Chief Justice 
Savage offered the following order, prefaced with some ap- 
propriate remarks, which was unanimously adopted. 



124 

Ordered, That this court, in testimony of their esteem for 
the memory of Col. Willett, and of their admiration of his 
patriotic conduct and distinguished services in tlie revolu- 
tion, and of the ability and integrity with which he dis- 
charged the duties of the various and important civil offices 
to which he has been called by the authority of his country, 
attend his funeral, and that this order be entered on the 
minutes of this court. 



Numerous other public testimonials* of respect were paid 
to the memory of Col. Willett, which showed the deep feel- 
ing produced by his death among the community at large. 

The funeral of Col. Willett took place on Tuesday after- 
noon, the 24th of August. " The coffin was conveyed into 
the garden in the rear of his dwelling, under an arbour : a 
gate was thrown open in the rear, so that the great num- 
ber of visitors who were anxious to view his remains might 
pass through without confusion. It was computed that not 
less than ten thousand persons availed themselves of the 
opportunity. 

" The coffin was made of cedar, which Col. Willetthad 
provided for the purpose about ten years before, in which 
the body was placed, habited, at his request, in his ordinary 
dress, with his hat on. 

" The procession formed at his residence at Cedar Grove, 
in Broome street. The pall-bearers were Col. Troup, Col. 
Fish, Col. Trumbull, Col. A. Ogden, Major General Mor- 
ton, Major Fairlie, J. Pintard, Esq. and Mr. Dominick. The 
bier was attended by the members of the Cincinnati Society, 
the members of the Court of Errors, the members of the Com- 
mon Council, the Judges of the different Courts, together 

* See Appendk, No. 18. 



125 

with an immense concourse of citizens in carriages and on 
foot, accompanied by a troop of horse, and a corps of New 
York state artillery. The procession moved from his residence 
to Trinity Church ; and the remains were deposited in his fa- 
mily vault in Trinity church-yard. During the afternoon, 
ninety minute-guns were fired on the Battery, and volleys 
of musketry over the grave." 



The following extract of a letter from Dr. Marinus Wil- 
lett, the eldest son of Col. Willett, to his wife, in relation to 
the death and funeral of his parent, will give the reader a 
touching and vivid account of the melancholy but interest- 
ing scene. 

" We have seen his eyes which so often beamed with af- 
fection, and his lips which so often conveyed to us the feel- 
ings of a heart beating with ardent attachment, closed for 
ever ; while every thing with us remains as before, except 
the sad void which his absence has produced. No longer do 
I see him occupy his well-known chair : no more do I aid 
his vision when I approach him by the mention of my name : 
no more do I receive his affectionate greetings : no longer am 
I called upon to make those particular inquiries about his 
health, which I have been wont daily to do. No : he is no 
longer seen among us. 

"The last time I saw his face, he was lying in his coffin, 
clad in his ordinary clothes, and wearing his large black hat. 
(How often have I seen him reposing his aged and wearied 
limbs on the sofa, looking very much as he then looked.) 
He was lying under those trees and vines in the garden, 
where he has spent so much of his time this summer, enjoy- 
mg with great gratification the gradual growth of those 
melons and peaches, of which he was extravagantly fond. 
How often, as he sat in liis chair, in the same place, have 1 



126 

watched him as he enjoyed his tranquil sleep. Here now 
his aged companions wept over him : here an affectionate 
and respectful neighbourhood gazed at him with counte- 
nances marked with sorrow ; and more than ten thousand 
of his fellow-citizens, who had assembled to pay the last tri- 
bute of respect to his memory, passed in regular procession 
by his remains. All was still and solemn. Our friend, Dr. 
DeWitt, made a prayer, in which, with the feeling you would 
expect from a man of his character, who was at the same 
time the son of one of my father's officers, he alluded with 
true eloquence to his age, his piety, his services, and the 
blessing which they conferred upon his country : closing 
with a devout acknowledgment to God for all the blessings 
he had conferred upon him. 

" After the procession began to move, and when the hearse 
arrived at the gate, the troops passed before it, and their so- 
lemn and delightful music, with plaintive and funereal notes, 
soothed the soul with its solemn melancholy. Slowly the 
procession moved along through streets thronged with spec- 
tators ; and did not arrive at the Trinity Church until it was 
quite dark. The coffin was taken from the hearse some 
distance from the church, and surrounded by his old brother 
officers. We followed it through a double rank of soldiers 
into the church. The solemn martial music — the darkness 
of the night — the appearance of tlie soldiers — and the som- 
bre aspect of the church and grave-yard, while we fol- 
lowed our dear parent, produced the most overpowering 
sensations. After the service had been read by Mr. An- 
thon, w^e passed slowly and sadly through the burying- 
ground, guided by the dim light of the torch to the tomb. 
Never did I expect to see such a true exhibition of the scene 
described in that incomparable description of the funeral of 
Sir John Moore. The drum — the dim light of the taper — 



127 

the distant minute-gun — his martial cloak aroimd him — with 
the volleys of musketry, and the cold and silent tomb — all 
were associated with the circumstance that I was paying 
the last tribute of respect to so loved and excellent a parent ; 
and produced feehngs of sorrow, which a strong confidence 
that he was then enjoying the bliss of the redeemed, could 
alone render tolerable." 



APPENDIX. 



No. I. 



"Loudon was superseded in the beginning of 1758, by 
General Abercrombie ; but tlie colonies cannot be said to 
have gained much by the substitution. The new com- 
mander-in-chief wasted a part of their resources, and check- 
ed the momentum of the mighty force which Pitt had ar- 
rayed on this continent against the French, by an ill-advised 
and ill-managed expedition against Crown Point. He took 
with him six thousand men, of whom nine thousand were 
provincials, and urged them to a hopeless assault upon Ti- 
conderoga, which cost the lives of more than sixteen hundred 
of his bravest European troops, and of four hundred provin- 
cials. * This attack,' says the Universal History, ' when 
no prospect of success could possibly present itself, was fol- 
lowed by a retreat as pusillanimous as the other was pre- 
sumptuous. The General re-embarked the troops, and 
though an incident had happened that might not have 
been easily foreseen, or rationally expected, he returned to 
his former camp at Lake George.' " 



No.JLt 
" Anxious to repair in any way the mischief and disgrace 
of this repulse, Abercrombie consented, at the sohcitation of 
a native American officer. Colonel Bradstreet, to detach him 
with three thousand men, against Fort Frontenac, on the 
north side of the Ohio. This body of troops, with the ex- 

♦ See Walsh's Appeal, Part 1, Page 126. f Ibid. p. 126. 

17 



130 

ception of only one hundred and fifty-five regulars, was com- 
posed of provincials ; and after surmounting, as the historians 
acknowledge, incredible difficulties and hardships, it gave an 
earnest of victory to the British cause, by capturing the for- 
tress, together with nine armed vessels, a vast quantity of 
ammunition, &c.,and breaking up thus the principal depot of 
supplies for the north-western posts, and the hostile Indians." 



No. III. 
Hartford, August 21st, 1777. ., 
The following is a J^arralive of part of the Transactions at and 

near Fort Stanwix, since the investiture of that place by the 

Enemy, given in Manuscript by Lieutenant- Colonel Willetit 

of that Garrison. 

On Saturday evening, August 2d, five battoes arrived with 
stores for the garrison. About the same time we discover- 
ed a number of fires a little better than a mile from the north- 
west corner of the fort. The stores were all got safe in, and 
the troops which were a guard to the battoes marched up. 
The captain of the battoes, and a few of his men, delaying 
their time about the boats, were fired on by a party of Indians, 
which killed one man and wounded two ; the captain him- 
self was taken a prisoner. 

Next morning the enemy appeared in the edge of the woods 
about a mile below the fort, where they took post in order to 
invest it upon that quarter, and to cut off the communication 
with the country ; from whence they sent in a flag who told 
us of their great power, strength, and determination, in such 
a manner as gave us reason to suppose they were not pos- 
sessed of strength sufficient to take the fort : Our answer was 
a determination to support it. 

All day on Monday we were much annoyed by a sharp 
fire of musketry from the Indians and German rifle-men, 



131 

which, as our men were obHged to be exposed on the works, 
killed one and wounded seven. The day after the firing 
was not so heavy, and our men under better cover ; all the 
damage was one man killed by a ritle ball. This evening 
indicated something in contemplation by the enemy. The 
Indians were uncommonly noisy ; they made most horrid 
yellings gi'eat part of the evening in the woods hardly a mile 
from the fort. A few cannon were fired among them. 
L- Wednesday morning there was an unusual silence. We 
discovered some of the enemy marching along the edge of 
the woods downwards. About eleven o'clock tbree men got 
into the fort, who brought a letter from General Harkaman of 
the Tryon count}' militia, advising us that he was at Eriska, 
(8 miles off,) with part of his militia, and proposed to force 
his way to the fort for our relief. In order to render him 
what service we could in his march, it was agreed that I 
should make a sally from the fort with 250 men, consisting 
of one half Gansevoorts, one half Massachusetts ditto, and 
one field piece (an iron three pounder.) The men were in- 
stantly paraded, and I ordered the following disposition to be 
made ; thirty men for the advance guard, to be commanded 
by Capt. Van Benscouton, and Lieutenant Stockwell ; thirty 
for the rear guard under the command of Captain Allen, of 
Massachusetts troops, and Lieutenant Deuffendorf ; thirty 

for flank guards, to be commanded by Captain , from 

Massachusetts, and Ensign Chase. The main body formed 
into eight subdivisions commanded by Captain Blacker, 
Lieutenants Comine, Bogardus, McClenner, ColTraunder ; 
Ensigns Begley, Lewis, and Dennison; Lieutenant Ball, the 
only supernumerary officer, to march with me. Captain Jan- 
sen to bring up the rear of the main body. Captain Swart- 
woudt, with Ensigns Magee, Anient, and 50 men, to guard 
the field piece, which was imder the direction of Major Bedlow. 
Notliing could be more fortunate than this enterprise. 



132 

We totally routed two of the enemy's encampments, de- 
stroyed all the provisions that were in them, brought off 
vipwards of 50 brass kettles, and more than 100 blankets, 
(two articles which were much needed,) with a quantity of 
muskets, tomahawks, spears, ammunition, clothing, deerskins, 
a variety of Indian affairs, and five colours, (the whole of 
which on our return to the fort were displayed on our flag 
staff under the continental flag.) The Indians took chiefly 
to the woods, the rest of the troops then at their posts to the 
river. The number of men lost by the enemy is uncertain. 
Six lay dead in their encampments, two of which were 
Indians ; several scattered about in the woods ; but their 
greatest loss appeared to be in crossing the river, and an in- 
considerable number upon the opposite shore, I was happy 
in preventing the men from scalping even the Indians, being 
desirous, if possible, to teach even the savages humanity ; 
but the men were much better employed, and kept in ex- 
cellent order. We were out so long, that a number of British 
regulars, accompanied by what Indians, &c. could be rallied, 
had marched down to a thicket on the other side of the river, 
about 50 yards from the road we were to pass on our return ; 
near this place I had ordered the field-piece ; — the ambush 
was not quite formed when we discovered them, and gave 
them a well-directed fire. Here especially Major Bedlow 
with his field-piece did considerable execution. — Here also 
the enemy were annoyed by the fire of several cannon from 
the fort, as they marched round to form the ambuscade. — The 
enemy's fire was very wild, and though we were very much 
exposed, did no execution at all. We brought in four prison- 
ers, three of which were wounded. One of the prisoners is 
a Mr. George Singleton of Montreal ; he is a lieutenant in 
a company of which Mr. Stephen Watts, of New-York, (bro- 
ther-in-law toSir John Johnson,) was captain, and who was 
himself killed in the battle with the militia about two hours 



133 

before. Mr, Singleton told me that Sir John Johnson was 
with him when we attacked their camp, and that he thinks 
he ran to the river. It is said hy some of the Oneida Indians 
that he is killed, which does not appear unlikely. From 
these prisoners we received the fust accounts of General 
Harkaman's militia being ambushed on their march ; and 
of a severe battle they had with them about two hours be- 
fore, which gave reason to think they had for the present 
given up their design of marching to the fort. 

I should not do justice to the officers and soldiers who 
were with me on this enterprize, if I were not in the most po- 
sitive terms to assure their countrymen that they in general 
behaved with the greatest gallantry upon this occasion ; and 
next to the very kind and signal interposition of divine Pro- 
vidence which was powerfully manifested in their favour, it 
was undoubtedly owing to that noble intrepidity which dis- 
covered itself in this attack, and struck the enemy with such a 
panic as disenabled them from taking pains to direct their 
fire, that we had not one man killed or wounded. The officers 
in general behaved so well that it is hardly right to mention 
the name of any particular one for their singular valour: but, 
so remarkably intrepid was Captain Van Benscouton, and so 
rapid was his attack, that it demands from me this particular 
testimony of his extraordinary spirit. 

Among other things' taken from the enemy were several 
bundles of papers and a parcel of letters belonging to our 
garrison, which they had taken from our militia, but not yet 
opened ; here I found one letter for myself ; there were like- 
wise papers belonging to Sir John Johnson and several others 
of the enemy's officers, with letters to and from General St. 
Leger, their commander ; these papers have been of some ser- 
vice to us. On the evening of the next day the enemy fired 
a few cannon at us from high ground, about half a mile north 
of the fort, where they have erected a small battery. Next 



134 

day, being Friday the 8th, they threw a parcel of shells from 
the same battery, none of which did any execution. This 
evening they sent us a flag, with which came their Adjutant 
General, Captain Armstrong, Colonel Butler, and a surgeon ; 
the surgeon to examine Singleton's wounds ; the principal 
business of the flag was to acquaint us that General St. 
Leger had with much difficulty prevailed on the Indians to 
agree that if the commanding officer would deliver up the fort, 
the garrison should be secured from any kind of harm, that 
not a hair of their heads should be touched, but if not, the 
consequence to the garrison, should it afterwards fall into 
their hands, must be terrible ; that the Indians were very 
much enraged on account of their having a number of their 
chiefs killed in the late action, and were determined, unless 
they got possession of the fort, to go down the Mohawk river 
and fall upon its inhabitants. Our answer was, that should 
this be the case, the blood of those inhabitants would be upon 
the heads of Mr. Butler and his employers, not upon us, and 
that such proceedings would ever remain a stigma upon the 
name of Britain ; but for our parts we were determined to 
defend the fort. 

That evening it was agreed by the field officers that I 
should undertake with Lieutenant Stockwell, (who is a good 
woodsman,) to endeavour to get down into the country, and 
by making a proper representation of our affairs endeavour to 
procure such force as may be sufficient entirely to extirpate 
this miscreant band. After a most severe march of about 60 
miles through the wilderness, I arrived at this place, and am 
in no doubt of beholding in a few days a force sufficient to 
accomplish this important piece of business. By the best 
accounts the loss of the Indians is very considerable, and 
they are quite sick of the expedition. 

Marinus Willett. 

German Flatts, Jiugust 11, 1777. 



137 
No. V. 

In commemoration of this sally, Congress ordered a sword 
to be presented to Colonel Willett. 

In Congress, October 4, 1777. 
Resolved, That Congress have a just sense of the distin- 
guished merit of Lieutenant Colonel Willett, for a repeated 
instance of his bravery and conduct in his late successful 
sally on the enemy investing Fort Schuyler ; and that the 
commissary general of military stores be directed to pro- 
cure an elegant sword, and present the same to Lieutenant 
Colonel Willett, in the name of these United States. 

By order of Congress, 
John Hancock, President. 

York Town, Pennsylvania, October 5th, 1777. 

Sir, — I do myself the pleasure to transmit the enclosed 
resolve, in which you will perceive the sense of Congress, 
expressed in the highest terms of approbation, on your 
bravery and conduct, in the successful sally which you made 
on the enemy while they invested Fort Schuyler. In con- 
sideration of your behaviour and distinguished merit on that 
occasion, the Congress have directed the commissary ge- 
neral of military stores, to present you with an elegant sword, 
in the name and on behalf of the United States of America. 

I have the honor to be, Sir, 

Your most obedient servant, 

John Hancock, President. 
Col Willett. 

To this Letter the following answer was returned : 
Sir, — It is a peculiar pleasure to me to have the sword, 
directed by Congress to be presented me by the resolve of 

18 



138 

the 4th of October, 1777, delivered by a gentleman who has 
borne so conspicuous a share in the toils and honors of the 
late war. May your services in your present important office 
be as useful to your country in the closet as they have for- 
merly been in the field. 

With my best thanks for your kind wishes, I have the 
honor to be, with sentiments of the greatest, respect and 
esteem, Sir, Your most obedient and humble servant, 

Marinus Willett. 

The Honorable Major General Knox, Secretary of War. 



No. VI. 



For this victory the Freedom of the City of Albany was 
presented to Colonel Willett. 

At a Common Council held at the City Hall of the City 
of Albany, on the 19th day of July, 1781 : 

Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be given to Col. 
Marinus Willett, and the officers and troops under his com- 
mand, for their bravery, intrepidity, and military conduct in 
the action of the lOtli instant, near Thurlougb, in Tryon 
county, who, with an inferior force, defeated and put to 
flight the enemy under the command of Brandt and Frery. 

Resolved, also. That the Freedom of this City, be pre- 
sented to Col. Willett, in testimony of tlie high sense this 
Board entertain of his patriotism and distinguished merit. 

Extract from the Minutes. 

Mat. Visscher, Clerk. 

Gentlemen, — I beg leave to olTer you my warmest 
acknowledgments for your favorable sentiments of the con- 



139 

duct of the few gallant officers and soldiers engaged with 
me ill the late action iii Tryon county. This mark of your 
approbation must essentially increase the satisfaction they 
have already experienced of being instrumental in chastis- 
ing a cruel and savage enemy, (the natural ally of the 
British King,) and will afford a rich compensation for the toils 
and difficulties they had to encounter. 

I esteem myself nmch honored by your resolution of this 
date, and particularly by being admitted to the rights of a 
freeman in this ancient and respectable city. Be pleased to 
accept my thanks for your politeness on this occasion, and 
permit me at the same time to observe to you, gentlemen, 
that I wish never to sheath the sword I have early drawn in 
defence of American liberty, as long as there is a soldier or 
a savage in the service of Britain, in any part of the States 
of America. 

I am, Gentlemen, 

With the highest sentiments of respect and esteem. 
Your most obedient 

and humble servant, 

Marinus Willett. 
Albany, 19th July, 1781. 

To the Worshipful the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty 
of the City of Albany. 



140 

'' No. VII. 

The following Extracts from different sources refer to this 
battle of Johnstown. 

Extract from the New- York Journal and the General Ad- 
vertiser, Monday, November 19tb, 1781. 

Extracts from the Fishkill paper. 
" That the enemy, between six and seven hundred regu- 
lars, rangers, yagers, and Indians, under Major Ross, having 
advanced to Johnstown, were met by Col. Willett, defeated, 
and pursued into the wilderness, where many of them must 
probably have perished. — That Major Butler was among the 
slain of the enemy, and many prisoners, chiefly British, sent 
in. The General expresses the warmest thanks and high- 
est sensibility of the address, gallantry, and persevering 
activity of Col. Willett ; and highly approves the conduct of 
the officers and soldiers in general, particularly of Major, 
the levies, and militia under his command, who at a critical 
moment, did honor to themselves, and rendered most essen- 
tial service to their country." 

Extracts from the New-York Packet and the American 
Advertiser. .Fishkill, Wednesday, November 29th, 1731. 

Philadelphia, JVot'. 1 5. 

Head Quarters, Continental Village, JVou. 8th. 

Sir, — Since I had the honor of addressing your Excellency 
this morning", I have received the enclosed papers (refer- 
ring to my father's official account of the battle) from Major 
General Lord Stirling, by which Congress will perceive that 
the enemy have been completely disappointed in their designs 
on the northern frontiers of this state, and defeated with consi- 
derable loss. The address, gallantry, and persevering activity 
exhibited by Col. Willett, on this occasion, do him the highest 



141 

honor. The conduct of Major Rowley and the brave 
mihtia under his command, at a critical moment, merits 
particular commendations. 

I have the honor to be, with the highest respect. 
Your Excellency's most obedient servant, 

W. Heath. 
His Excellency the President of Congress. 

Extract of a Letter from Major General Lord Stirling, dated 
Saratoga, November 6th, 1781. 
" I have received a letter from Col. Willett, (the official ac- 
count.) a copy of which is enclosed. The returns he alludes 
to, were never sent. The vigilant, prudent conduct of this 
officer, through the whole affair, was such as reflects the 
highest honor on the military character, and the essential 
service he has done his country, will give him a pleasing 
remembrance in every honest breast. The number he has 
taken, killed, and wounded, with the distressed situation in 
which he left them, will amount to little short of a total 
defeat. Eight days' march will scarcely bring them to a 
coimtry where they can be supplied with provisions." 

Extract of a Letter from Governor Clinton, dated Pokeepsie, 

8th November, 1781. 
" Dear Sir, 

" I am this moment favoured with yours of the 2d inst. 
and most sincerely congratulate you on your safe return to 
Fort Rensalaer, and your different successes over the enemy in 
Tryon county. I am sensible of the dangers and difficulties 
you had to encounter on this occasion ; and I am persuaded 
much is due to your personal exertions, and that nothing 
was wanting on your part to have ensured a complete vic- 
tory ; and I trust the vigor with which the enemy wag 



142 



attacked, routed, and pursued, will be attended with the most 
salutary consequences to the frontier settlements." 



No. VIII. 



The success of the Creek Mission is thus spoken of in 
Marshall's Life of Washington. Vol, 5th, page 273. 

" For this service (i. e. the Creek Mission) Colonel Wil- 
lett, a gallant and intelligent officer who had served through 
the war of the revolution, was selected ; and he acquitted 
himself so well of the duty assigned to him, that the chiefs 
of the nation, with M'Gillivray at their head, were induced 
to repair to New-York, where negotiations were immediately- 
opened which terminated in a treaty of peace signed on the 
7th day of August." 



No. IX. 



Correspondence of General Washington in relation to the Ex- 
pedition against Oswego. 

Letter I. 

" Jfewburgh, 18th December, 1782. 
Dear Sir, — 

Your letter of the 29th ult. from Albany, came safe to 
my hand. I am glad to find you enter so readily into a 
measure which appears very practicable in my eyes, provided 
the troops for the enterprise can be properly accommodated. 

I have again written to the Secretary at War respecting 
clothing for the York state troops, and desired Colonel 
Tilhman, who left this on Sunday last for Philadelphia, to 



143 

enforce it, not only on him, but on the clothier general also ; 
that, if it can be had, it may be sent up without delay. 
From the deputy clothier's store at this place, I could fur- 
nish vests and woollen hose enough for the State troops, 
and woollen caps, socks, and mittens sufficient for the whole 
party. 

Indian shoes or moccasons I must depend upon you to 
procure, and also the snow shoes, of which I do not forsee the 
necessity for each man's having a pair, though some may be 
indispensably necessary. I well remember to have directed 
(two years ago,) a number of snow shoes to be made ; and if 
I mistake not it was done : but I do not suppose any de- 
pendance is to be had on them at this time. It may not be 
amiss however to inquire of General Schuyler (to whom I 
think I wrote on the subject) the quarter-master, or any 
other who may be likely to give information, whether they 
are yet in being. 

To provide and carry scaling ladders from the settlement 
would at once announce your design, and more than proba- 
bly defeat the enterprise — at any rate they would be trou- 
blesome to transport, and must impede the rapidity of your 
movements, on which every thing depends. — It appears to 
me therefore that the attempt would be improper, and that 
the difficulty may be surmounted by carrying a few tools, 
(to-wit, axes, saws, augers and a gouge) with which, at a 
convenient time and place, a sufficient number of ladders 
might easily be made. 

The mode you propose for obtaining the sleighs and as- 
sembhng the troops, I approve of preferably to the quarter- 
master's having any agency in the business, and do of the 
time named for the execution, if the clothing can be got to 
you in season ; l)ut having doubts on this head, I shall be 
glad to know to \o\y late a period the expedition can be 



144 

delayed, on account of the ice on the Oneida Lake, and 
goodness of the sleighing. 

If there be a necessity for a party to precede the sleighs a 
day or two to mark the route, it ought to consist of picked 
men, of tried fidelity, and even then the chance of discovery 
is greater than it otherwise would be. 

The strength of your party should be proportioned to that 
of the garrison you attempt, for which reason every possible 
pains should be used to obtain the most accurate account of 
it. If you have men to set the enemy at defiance, in case of 
their discovermg you previous to the assault or miscarriage 
therein, it is all that is necessary. More than these would 
render your movements unweildly and slow : consequently 
more liable to discovery in your preparation and on the 
march. 

I should be glad to hear from you again on this head by 
some safe conveyance ; and if matters can be properly pre- 
pared for the enterprise, and nothing more than I know of at 
this time to hinder it, I will be at Albany when you march, 
that I may be at hand to remove difficulties if any should 
occur. With gi'eat esteem and regard, 

I am, dear sir. 

Your most obedient servant, 
G. WASHINGTON. 

Col. Willett. 

P. S. It will be essentially necessary to fix your eyes upon 
some one or more persons (deserter or otherwise,) who have 
been in and are acquainted with the enemy's works, and 
seize them at the moment they are wanted that you may 
have them as guides." 



145 



Letter II. 

JsTewburgh, January 22d, 1783. 

Dear Sir, — On the 20Ui, by your paymaster, I informed 
you, that besides the usual proportion of clotliiiio-, I liad sentto 
your orders woollen caps, socks, and mills, for tlie intcndeden- 
terprise, to be made use of, or j)ol, according lo circumslances. 
— I have also written to Mr. Duer, v. Iio is iiow at Albany, to 
lay in a month's provisions for one luuidred meu, at each of 
the posts of Forts Rensselaer and Herkimer, and till further 
orders have placed the Rhode Island regiment imder your 
direction. 

For the reasons you assign, I approve of tlie time you pro-, 
pose for the attack, and suppose it will be necessary for you 
to begin your march from Fort Herkimer at the time you 
mention, viz. on the 8th or 9th of next month. 

If the sleighing should be good, and business does not pre- 
vent it, I will endeavour to be at that place, or Fort Rensse- 
laer by that time, but of this you will take no notice to 
any body, nor suffer it to have any influence on yoiu- ])repara- 
tions or conduct before or at the time, as many things may 
intervene to detain me. 

All that remains to be done is now v/ith you to do. And 
as the matter is between ourselves, and you have better in- 
formation of the situation of the enemy, and dillicidty in 
getting at them, tlian I, — I have only to request you to act 
from your best judgment, under a firm persuasion that if the 
enterprise in contemplation was even better known than it 
is, no imputation could fall upon you for having laid it aside, 
if the diihculiies in the way should be greater than appeared 

19 



IkL 



146 

at first view. Let me hear from you, and if possible by 
the 3d or 4th of next month. 
I am, dear sir, 

Your most obedient servant, 

G. Washington. 

Colonel Willett. 



Letter IIL 

JVeiobitrgh, February 2d, 1783. 

Dear Sir, — Your letters of the 2Slh ultimo from Fort 
Rensselaer, and 30tli from Albany, both came to my hands 
last night. 

One hundred and fifty blankets (all that are in the 
clothier's store at this place) and twenty -five axes, are now 
packing to be sent to you, and the Quartermaster-General 
will endeavour, if possible, to have them at Albany on the 4th, 
from whence you must take measures to get them to Fort 
Herkimer in time. If any of Olney's men (on the enter- 
prize you are going) shoidd be in greater need than yours, 
they must be supplied out of this parcel, that the whole may 
be as comfortable as it is in my power to make them. 

I do not send medicines, bandages and instruments, be- 
cause it would take some time to procure them, and not a 
moment is to be lost in dispatching the sleighs with the 
blankets, that they may arrive in time, and because (though I 
wish' you not to be unprovided) it is to be remembered, and 
I wish to impress it upon you, that if you do not succeed 
by surprize, the attempt will be unwarrantable. The wounds 
received in the former, more than probable, will be trifling. 

Every plausible deception should be used to mask the ob- 
ject of your expedition to the latest moment. Your move- 
ments afterwards should be quick, and pains must be taken 



147 

to discover, by tracks or otherwise, whether intelligence has 
outgone you. — If you should be fully convinced of this, the 
further prosecution of the enterprize would not only be 
fruitless, but might prove injurious. 

To an officer of your care, attention and foresight, I shall 
not dwell upon circumspection and caution. The conse- 
quence of a surprize, ( not only to the party you command, 
but to your own reputation,) is too serious and self-evident, to 
stand in need of illustration. A vast deal depends upon 
having good guides to Oswego; and every thing, in a man- 
ner, upon persons that can carry you without hesitation 
and dilficulty to the points of attack, when you arrive there. 

How fiir a few Indians would be useful to you for the 
first purpose ; and how far they are to be confided in, you, 
from a better knowledge of them than I possess, must judge, 
and act accordingly. 

Guides who are pressed in the service must be well se- 
cured, lest they desert from you in a critical moment. 

From having recourse to the almanack, I am led to wish 
that the night for the attack may not be delayed beyond the 
12th inst. ; as I find that the setting of the moon, (even at 
that time,) approaches so near day-light, that the intervening 
space is short, and consequently must be very critical ; as 
accidents unforeseen, and consequently unprovided for, may 
embarrass your movements towards the works, and retard 
the attack of them beyond the hour designed, to the entire 
disappointment of the plan : Let me caution you, there- 
fore, against being too exact in your of 
time for your last movement — reflect that you can always 
waste time, but never recover it. Halts, or slow marching, 
will accomplish the first ; but nothing can effect the latter — 
consequently, in such an enterprize as yours, want of time 
will be a certain defeat. 



148 

Let your disposition be such, that in any circumstances 
your retreat to your sleighs, and afterwards with thein, may 
be secure. 

If success should crown your endeavours, let your first 
object be to secure your prisoners, whom you will treat with 
lenity and kindness ; sulfering no insult or abuse to be offer- 
ed them W'itli impunity, your next object nuist be to de- 
stroy the works ; the vessels (if any should be found there) 
and every thing else which cannot be brought away. Such 
works as cannot be consumed by fire, nor easily erased by 
the soldiers, must be, if practicable, blown up. In a word, 
they are to be effectually demolished, if it is within the 
compass of your pow'er to do it. 

Whatever is found in, or about the works, belonging to the 
enemy, and is agreeable to the rules and customs of war, hu- 
manity and generosity, shall be given to the party as the re- 
ward of their gallantry and fatigue — to be distributed in 
proportion to their pay. The drivers of sleighs, if countrymen, 
should receive a part as an extra encouragement for their 
services. 

Make me the earliest report, (if successful, from the scene 
of action — at any rate on your return,) of your progress, 
and the issue of the expedition. The inclosed letter will 
show you what I have done respecting spirits and subsis- 
tence for your officers. Seal it before delivery, and make 
your arrangements with the contractor. I begin to doubt 
the practicability of my being up; my sentiments however 
you are possessed of, as well as the aid I can give. Your 
own judgment must govern where my mstructions are defi- 
cient. I heartily wish you honour and success, and am 
Dear Sir, your most obedient servant, 

G Washington. 
Colonel Willett. 



149 

Letter IV. 

Head Quarters^ 5th March, 1783. 
Sir, — I have been favoured with your letter of the 19th 
of February, announcing the faihue of your attempt against 
Oswego. 

Unfortunate as the circumstance is, I am happy in the 
persuasion that no imputation or reflection can justly reach 
your character ; and that you are enabled to derive much 
consolation from the animated zeal, fortitude, and activity 
of thebflicers and soldiers who accompanied you. The fail- 
ure, it seems, must be attributed to some of those unaccount- 
able events which are not wdthin the control of human 
means ; and which, though they often occur in military life, 
yet require, not only the fortitude of the soldier, but the calm 
reflection of the philosopher to bear. 

I cannot omit expressing to you the high sense I entertain 
of your persevering exertions and zeal on this expedition ; 
and beg you to accept my wanii thanks on the occasion ; 
and that you will be pleased to commimicate my gratitude 
to the officers and men who acted under your command, for 
the share they had in that service. 

With much esteem and regard, 
I am. Sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 

G. Washington. 
Lieut. Col. M. Willett. 



No. X. 
Meeting of Citizens in the Park, Wednesday, August 10, 1814. 

PUBLIC MEETING. 

On Wednesday, pursuant to public notice, there assem- 
bled in the Park, in front of the City Hall, an immense 



150 

concourse of citizens. Colonel Henry Rutgers, was unani- 
mously called to the Chair, and Oliver Wolcott, Esquire, 
appointed Secretary. They took their stations in the centre 
balcony. Col. Willett, standing near the Chairman, and 
the flag of the nation waving over his head, delivered an 
address to his fellow-citizens, well calculated to inspire ani- 
mation and courage. 

He began by asking the indulgence of his fellow-citizens 
for the talk of an old man. — He then proceeded : — 

Threescore and fourteen years have brought witli* them 
some bodily infirmities — liad it been otherwise, and that my 
strength of body had remained as unimpaired as my love for 
my country, and the spirit that still animates me, you 
would not, my friends, have seen me here this day : I should 
have been amongst that glorious band, that, on the waters 
of Erie and Ontario, have achieved so much fame and lasting 
glory for their country ! 

A life of seventy-four years has afforded me opportunities 
of seeing many great and surprising changes. 

Fifty-eight years are now passed since I was a witness 
of press-gangs traversing these streets, and dragging men 
from their houses on board of ships of war ! What a contrast 
between that time and this ! Let those now reflect upon it, 
who, instead of thanking that kind Providence which de- 
livered us from such oppressive domination, employ their 
whole power to weaken and subvert a government made by 
ourselves, and for ourselves — the fruit of our blood and toil ! 
What spirit is this, that, in the present crisis of our country, 
can lead to measures so disgraceful ] Shall we abuse and vilify 
those men we have placed at the head of our aflfairs, because 
they do not act just as we are pleased to say they should 1 Are 
we, for that reason, to refuse compliance with the laws of our 
country 1 No, my fellow-citizens ! for it is justly stated m the 



151 

address of the Common Coimcil, that we arc not, in the present 
situation of our country, to iiujuire into the wisdom of the 
measures which resuhed in the declaration of this w^ar. It 
is a fact, that we are at war; and that that war has been 
undertaken agreeably to the constitution of our country. 
Every man bound to support the constitution of the United 
States, is, therefore, bound to support the war — because it is 
a constitutional act, and such is the law of the land. But, 
had I power to detail, and you patience to hear, wdiat I have 
known and observed of the haughty, cruel, and gasconading 
nation that makes war against us, your feelings would out- 
strip my words, and anticipate the voice and commands of 
authority. The terms I use towards our enemy are not 
mine alone, nor proceeding from the personal warmth of my 
individual character. Such were the sentiments of men as 
great as this or any nation can boast of — Washington and 
Franklin. Dr. Franklin delivered his opinions in his cor- 
respondence with Lord Howe ; and those of General Wash- 
ington I have had from his own lips. 

Forty years ago I was at a meeting of citizens assembled 
on this green. The acclamation then was ^'join or die.''* 
The unanimity of that day procured the repeal of some ob- 
noxious laws ; but the design of enslaving us was not re- 
linquished. Troops were stationed throughout the colonies 
to carry the nefarious intention into execution. Many were 
the broils between the citizen and the soldier, for the spirit 
of the citizens was roused, and they viewed with just indig- 
nation, the mercenary troops that were to overthrow their 
liberties. They were stung by the ingratitude of the nation 
to which they had yielded loyal cl^edience, and assisted in its 
wars with ardour and alacrity But had the enemy then 
conquered us as we did them, how dillerent would have been 



152 

our situation at this day ! Reflecting on this, it seems to me 
almost incredible that there should be Americans that could 
espouse the cause of such an enemy. Of what stuff are 
such hearts made? Is it possible that any such should be 
amongst the sons of those who fought your battles, my 
fellow-citizens, and won your freedom. 

It was, in the war of the revolution, a favourite toast — 
"May every Citizen be a Soldier, and every Soldier a Citi- 
zen." 

Our citizens must now again become soldiers, and those 
soldiers be good citizens — not parading soldiers, fellow-citi- 
zens, but fighting soldiers — soldiers willing and ready to 
encounter the hardships and fatigues of war. I am not 
what I have been ; but such as I am, wherever the enemy 
seek to deal most destruction, there you may look for me. 
And as to this mistaken idea, that American militia are un- 
equal to the contest with British regulars, 1 am a living wit- 
ness to the contrary. With militia I have encountered them. 
I have met them when their numbers were double mine ; 
and I have routed and pursued them. You, my fellow- 
citizens, if you will, can do the same. There is no terror in 
them for brave men, who dare look them in the face, and 
lock the bayonet with them. Let those who would dismay 
you by the terrors of war, rather reflect upon the part they 
liave had in encouraging your enemy; and though war, like 
pestilence, may have been visited upon nations for their 
crimes, yet against this enemy we have committed no of- 
fence. We bore with the cruelty, injustice and oppression 
of that insolent nation, till it became insupportable. 

Instead, therefore, of cavilling at the measures or opera- 
tions of the war, let us rather unite to banish envy, hatred 
and discord, from amongst us ; and resolve with all our 



153 

might, to resist that implacable encmyj who will never re- 
spect us till we again compel him so to do. 

Permit me, then, my dear fellow-citizens, to conclude 
with a chorus we were used to sing in the camp in days of 
much more danger: 

Let Europe empty all her force, 
We'n meet them in array, 
And shout — Huzza — Huzza — Huzza, 
For Life and Liberty. 

[This pithy discourse from a tried and truly statesman of 
the revolution, whose acts were vouchers for his words, had 
its full effect, and was cheered with unbounded applause.] 



No. XI. 



Extracted from the Speech of Col. Willett as Chairman of the 
Greek Committee. 
"Upwards of fourscore and three years having rendered 
me mcapable of llie activity requisite as Chairman of this 
Committee, I am induced to desire to be excused from at- 
tendance on its deliberations. The cause of the Greeks is 
undoubtedly the cause of liberty. The first of last month 
was fifty-eight years since I was actively engaged with the 
sons of liberty in this city, in opposing the first attempts 
made by the British government to enslave our country by 
introducing the memorable stamp act. On the night in 
which it was to have been put into execution, I was em- 
ployed in preparing, exhibiting, and burning the effigies of 
those persons who w^ere most noted in producing tliat act. 
* Join or die,' was echoed through our streets. It was a 
glorious night." 

Col. Willett then proceeded to make some remarks in re- 

20 



154 

lation to the causes tVhich produced the revolutionary war ; 
and to the general difiTusion of liberal principles since that 
eventful period. He then closed in the following manner : — 
"Permit me, as the only help I can at present bestow, to 
offer two thousand acres of land due to me from the state of 
New York, become my due agreeably to a law passed by the 
legislature of the state of New York, in March 1781, by 
defending the frontiers in the campaigns of 1781, 1782, 
1783 : whicli were by far the most arduous of any that I 
served during the war of the revolution. There was more 
fatigue, more hazard and anxiety in one of those campaigns 
than in seven such as I served in the year 1789, with the 
army under the immediate command of General Wash- 
ington." 



No. XII. 



The following are from among the numerous tributes of 
respect paid to the memory of Col. Marinus Willett. 

JVeto York State Society of Cincinnati. 

JYeio York, August 23, 1830. 

The President, with deep and sincere regret, announces 
to the members of the Society, the death of their venerable 
and esteemed friend and brother, Col. Marinus Willett, who 
departed this life last evening. 

Col. Willett commenced his military career in the colonial 
service of the British government, in the reign of George 
the 2d ; was actively engaged on the northern and western 
frontiers of this state in the (French) war of 1756, and was 
present at the battle of Oswego, where the first Lord Howe 
was killed. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Revo- 
lution, Col. Willett jouied the standard, and entered the 



155 

service of his country, in which it was his good fortune to 
be highly distinguished and uscfvd : he was a vohuifeer at 
the hattle of Monmouth on the 28th of June, 1778, when 
the British forces, under General Sir Henry Clinton, were 
defeated : he was eminently distinguished in the siege of 
Fort Stanwix, and also at the battle of Johnstown, (Mont- 
gomery count}^,) on the 25th of October, 1781, in both of 
which he commanded. 

Col. Willett continued in the revolutionary army until 
the close of the war of independence, commanding at that 
time the 5th regiment : he was remarkable for personal 
bravery, military enterprise, and energy of purpose. 

In private life, Col. W. was one of the most amiable of 
men, and after the war held several civil offices ; the last of 
which was the mayoralty of this city. 

The members of the Society are directed to wear the 
usual badge of mourning in honour of Col. Willett for thirly 
days ; they are also respectfully invited to attend the funeral 
of their deceased companion, to-morrow (Tuesday) after- 
noon, at half-past 4 o'clock, from his late residence, No. 58 
Broome street, between Cannon and Lewis streets. 

By order of Col. Richard Varick, President. 

Chas. Graham, Secretary. 

*^* Carriages for the members of the Society will be in 
attendance in front of the City Hall at 4 o'clock. 



First Division JVeto York State Artillery. 

DIVISION ORDERS. 

Mw York, Angust 23, 1830. 
Information has been given to the major-general of the 
death of Col. Marinus Willett, wdio departed this life last 
evening, at the advanced age of ninety years. 



156 

Providence appears to have continued to a late day severa} 
of those patriots who served our country in the cabinet and 
in the field during the revolutionary war, as it were to re- 
ward them with witnessing and enjoying the happiness 
which their councils or their valour acquired, and by their 
presence to keep alive the principles by which they led their 
country to freedom and independence. 

Few men have sunk to the tomb more entitled to the 
gratitude and respect of their countrymen, than Colonel 
Willett. 

He was among the early assertors of our country's rights, 
and his conduct in defence of Fort Stanwix, and the peril- 
ous hazards he encountered in bringing relief to the gar- 
rison, are among the most brilliant feats of the war. 

Such men the country delight to honour when hving, and 
to cherish their memory when dead. 

The Corps of Artillery are ever ready to pay honours to 
military departed worth. 

The major general therefore directs Brigadier General 
Spicer to order the regiment commanded by Colonel Sanford, 
Brigadier General Arcularias to order a squadron of cavalry 
from his brigade, and Brigadier General Hopkins to order a 
battalion of artillery from his brigade, to perform the mili- 
tary honours at the interment of the deceased. 

The corps from General Spicer's and General Arcularius' 
brigades, will parade at 4 o'clock, P. M. at the late residence 
of Colonel Willett, corner of Broome and Lewis streets. 
The battalion from General Hopkins' brigade will form on 
the Battery at 4 o'clock, P. M. and will fire minute-guns 
from that place, corresponding in numbers with the age of 
the deceased. The whole detachment will be under the 
command of Colonel Sanford. 



157 •» 

General Hopkins will oriler the flag to be hoisted at the 
Battery, at half-mast, from sunrise and daring the day. 

General Muir will, on requisition, issue the necessary am- 
munition. 

The officers of the Division not on duty are invited to 
attend the funeral. 

By order of Major General Morton. 

S. D. Jackson, 
Colonel and Division Inspector. 



From the JVeio York Daily Advertiser. 

Died, in this city, on Sunday evening last, Col. Marinus 
Willett, in the 91st year of his age. Col. Willett was an 
officer of distinguished merit through the war of Independ- 
ence; and has enjoyed in a high degree the respect and 
confidence of his fellow-citizens and the community. A 
more particular account of the life and character of this 
venerable patriot and soldier, will doubtless be prepared and 
published by some person more intimately acquainted with 
the events of his long and honourable life. 



From the JSTew-York Commercial. 

Col. Willett. — ^We hastily noticed yesterday, as our paper 
was going to press, the death of this venerable soldier of the 
revolution, whose public services are matters of history, and 
who has been most happy in his private life ; enjoying in 
good old age the esteem of all around him, the possession of 
all his faculties, and the consolations of religious faith and 
hope. The public testimonies of respect which will be paid 
to his memory were never more honourably deserved. 



158 

Fivm the JVcMJ- York Min'or. 
Colonel Marinus Willeit. — This veteran officer of the Re- 
volution died on Sunday, tlie 23d instant, in the ninety-first 
year of his age. On Tuesday his remains were deposited in 
their final resting-place, with civil and military honours, at- 
tended by a vast concourse of citizens, with numerous friends 
and relatives, wlio better knew the worth, and of course more 
deeply felt the deprivation which all lamented. The cha- 
racter of the deceased needs not the feeble eulogy of our pen. 
His biography is inseparably interwoven with the history of 
our country's glory. 



From the Courier and Enquirer. 
In the personal character of Colonel Willett, there were 
traits of chivalry and daring, so fearless and ardent, that in 
another age he would have commanded the deepest and 
greatest admiration. The present generation is perhaps 
even too near the Revolution to give due honor and respect to 
the heroic characters which that great event produced. Alas ! 
what now are our patriots — our sages — our lovers of country, 
when compared with the men of the revolution ! Selfishness 
covers and influences every action — private interest usurps 
the place of public good. How different were these sainted 
men ! What fearlessness ! what openness ! what candour ! in 
every act that their country required of them. They had 
no thought of self during that momentous struggle. Look 
at Carroll, nursed in wealth and ease, risking every thing, 
every pleasure, and all the means of quiet happiness, for the 
glory and independence of his country ! See Willett ! meet- 
ing death in every shape — braving all dangers to establish 
that liberty which we are now enjoying. The Revolution 
was the age that gave souls to men's bosoms. 



159 

From the Aei»- York Constellation. 

Death of Colonel Willett. — Anotiicr Revolutionaiy soldier 
is g-one. The venerable Colonel Willett died on Sunday- 
evening-, at his house, Cedar Grove, in the 91st year of his 
age. He was a lieutenant in the French war, and a colonel 
in the war of the Revolution. He distinguished himself by 
his defence at Fort Stanwix against the united attacks of the 
British and Indian marauders. His courage and presence 
of mind were particularly displayed in liis conflicts with the 
sons of the forest. — In private life Col. Willett was distin- 
guished for integrity, frankness, and decision of character. 



From the J^ew-York Herald. 

Death of Col. Willett. — We have to record the demise of 
this brave soldier of the Revolution, generally known as "the 
Hero of Fort Stanwix." Col. Willett not only claimed ad- 
miration for his valour, but the confidence of his fellow citi- 
zens, in numerous public stations, which he filled with honour. 
He died at a good old age, which was cheered by the recol- 
lections of a life spent in the service of his country, and the 
respect and veneration of all around him. Being- unpre- 
pared to give a sketch of his life, we copy the following notice 
of his decease from the Evening Post: — 

From the J^ew-York Evening Post. 
The venerable Colonel Willett is no more. He died last 
evening at his house, Cedar Grove, in the 91st year of his 
age. Col. Willett distinguished himself by his bravery and 
good conduct in the war of the Revolution. His courage> 
prowess and presence of mind, were particularly displayed in 
conflicts with the Indians who tooJf pait w'h Great Britain. 



160 

He was a man of great integrity, frankness, and decision of 
character in private life. We could wish some person ac- 
quainted with the events of his hfe would furnish a sketch of 
them for this paper. 



From the Albany Daily Advertiser. 

THE NEW-YORK LINE. 

Few troops behaved with more bravery during the Revolu- 
tion, tlian the Jfew-York Line, as they were called. An 
ardent devotion to the great cause, impelled them to the 
most heroic achievements. An unfading lustre remains 
upon their history. After a thousand years have passed, 
said Chateaubriand, the chivalry of the North American pa- 
triots will be sung by some future Ossian on the banks of 
the Superior. 

The natural position of New-York rendered it a scene of 
the most important military events. Its extent of territory, 
and contiguity to Canada, rendered its possession and de- 
fence a theme for Washington often to speculate upon. The 
most glorious and spirit-stirring recollections of the revolution, 
are associated with the name of every river, mountain and 
valley in the State. The thunders from Fort Putnam re- 
verberated over the highlands of the Hudson ; while the 
recesses of the forests echoed at Fort Stanwix with the mus- 
ketry of its brave defenders. It devolved upon Washington 
to commit this northern frontier to a Spartan band. He se- 
lected from the honest descendants of the Dutch emigrants, 
a chosen corps. To them he committed the destinies of this 
section of the republic, well assured of its security and pro- 
tection. For when his southern staff volunteered to march 
on to the north to arrest the triumphant progress of Bur- 
goyne, he replied to them, that he had no apprehensions for 



161 

the north — that there was a belt of oak there, that would 
secure it from British invasion. With Richard he might 
have exclaimed, 

" What do they in the north, 
When they should serve their sovereign in the west ?" 

It was Schuyler and Gates, Van Schaick, Gansevoort, 
Willett, Rutgers, and others, who wrested this fair sister 
from the rude grasp of foreign intruders. They formed a 
belt of oak — a bond of union, a phalanx of power, abounding 
in virtue, courage and jiatriotism. Well did Pitt observe in 
Parhament to the tory party, "that with prophetic vision he 
saw the catastrophe which awaited the British power in the 
colonies. They had no Washington, or Adams, or Hancock 
there for nought." 



From the Albany Evening Journal. 
The venerable Marinus Willett, terminated his long, 
useful, and honourable life, on Sunday evening, at his resi- 
dence in Broome-street, New- York. Col. Willett had attain- 
ed his 90th year. Virtue, philanthropy and patriotism, 
guided every step, and adorned every act of his lengthened 
and eventful life. He was a gallant and distinguished sol- 
dier, during the Revolutionary war, and has held various 
and honourable public stations under the state and national 
governments. 



From the Rochester Daily Advertiser. 

The venerable Col. Mariinis Willett, tlied at his residence 

in New York on Sunday last in his 90th year, He was one 

of tliose, who in the stormy period which " tried men's 

souls," perilled all for his country, and lived long to rejoice in 

21 



162 

its independence. He has been gathered in a truly " good 
old age " to his fathers, and has left a name that will bright- 
en in the estimation of posterity. 



From the Troy Sentinel. 
Another hero of the revolution, Col. Marinus Willett, aged 
91, departed to his last rest on Sunday evening, at his resi- 
dence at Cedar Grove, New York. He vi^as throughout the 
Revolution an active and useful officer, and in his latter years 
has been uniformly honoured as an excellent citizen, and 
beloved as an estimable man. 



Funeral of Col. Willett. — The Common Council of New- 
York have passed resolutions of respect to Col. Willett, and 
will attend his funeral as a public body. He will be buried 
with military honors. The State Society of the Cincinnati 
will be mourners on the occasion, and the military will be 
from the First Division of Artillery. The Court of Errors 
and other public bodies will join the procession. 

" Such honours Ilion to her heroes paid, 

And peaceful slept the mighty Hector's shade." 



THE END. 



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